Atletico Madrid handed injury scare before Champions League clash with Liverpool

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Atletico Madrid will be sweating on Julian Alvarez's fitness ahead of Liverpool.(Image: Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Atletico Madrid have suffered an injury scare just days before they take on Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League.

Forward Julian Alvarez was substituted 'as a precaution' during the half-time break of their La Liga fixture on Saturday night.

Ex-Manchester City star Alvarez, who has been rumoured to be of past transfer interest to Liverpool, had provided an assist for Pablo Barrios to put Atletico ahead in the ninth minute of their match against Villarreal at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.



He had also been yellow-carded before the break, after which he did not emerge from the tunnel.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the club put this down to 'a precaution' with the knowledge of there being a huge Champions League opener to come against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night.

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Alvarez had featured in Argentina's two fixtures over the international break, but returned without injury.

It's not specified what issue Atletico are being careful of, but his absence would be a huge loss for Diego Simeone, should it turn out to be something more significant.

The 25-year-old has made 60 appearances since his £81m transfer from Man City in summer 2024.

He has scored 30 goals and his assist on Saturday was his eighth since that move, totalling more goal contributions than any other Atletico player in that time.

The Spanish side have also been without central defender Jose Maria Gimenez for the entirety of the season so far, while midfielders Alex Baena and Thiago Almada were absent for the Villarreal match, too.

The only consolation for them to take was that the La Liga match ended with their first win of the 2025/26 season.

As for Liverpool, meanwhile, they will be looking to avoid any new fitness concerns themselves resulting from their Premier League clash with Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds have been without right-back Jeremie Frimpong owing a hamstring injury since the opening match of the campaign last month.

Arne Slot has also detailed just how cautious he will be with £125m signing Alexander Isak, as the striker has not completed a full pre-season schedule before joining the club from Newcastle United on deadline day.

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Lastly, the only new absentee for the game against the Clarets is Curtis Jones.

Slot confirmed the midfielder picked up an issue in their meeting with Arsenal before the break.