CONFIRMED: Liverpool XI vs Atletico Madrid
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesUEFA Champions League openers don’t get much bigger than Liverpool taking on La Liga side Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
The reigning Premier League champions have started their domestic campaign perfectly, winning all four of their opening matches.
The Reds will be eager to make amends for last season’s disappointing round-of-16 exit, where they lost a heartbreaking penalty shootout to eventual champions PSG.
Atletico, who finished third in La Liga last season behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, are the only team in history to have reached three Champions League finals without winning the trophy – a record they will be desperate to overturn this season.
Speaking ahead of the game, Arne Slot said: “When I was at Feyenoord in the Eredivisie you knew when you went from a Sunday to a Wednesday you had to make two steps up, unless you played Ajax or PSV on the weekend.
“If you play in the Premier League it is either the same quality you face or a little step up.
“Yes, it’s again a very difficult one because Atletico Madrid have done so well in La Liga over so many years with Diego Simeone.
“They were even able to win the league twice when you face Real Madrid and Barcelona, and they have been twice in the final of the Champions League.
“This is a team that is a difficult one to play against because of the mentality and because of their team performance and because of their individual quality.
“The last time I faced them I still wake up sometimes at night – it’s maybe not true.
The good thing now is that in my team I have players that can do similar things [as] Griezmann can do.
“I loved my players at Feyenoord a lot as well, but at that moment in time and in that moment of their career they were not able to compete with Griezmann on that night.
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Isak, Salah, Gakpo, Robertson, Frimpong, Gravenberch.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Endo, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Bradley, Leoni, Ekitike, Danns, Ngumoha.
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