Diego Simeone responds to Atletico Madrid injury blows with 'despair’ statement before Liverpool

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Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is enduring a difficult start to the campaign(Image: YouTube/El Partidazo de Cope)

Liverpool look set to face off against an Atletico Madrid side weakened by injuries.

After the Reds' trip to Burnley, Arne Slot's men return to Anfield the following Wednesday to begin their Champions League campaign against Diego Simeone's fierce side.

The Reds topped the table in the league phase last season, before exiting on penalties to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.

Slot will be looking for maximum points against the La Liga heavyweights, who have endured a tough start to the campaign.

The Reds chances of doing just that have seemingly risen, as Atletico are enduring their fair share of injuries.

They are currently without top central defender Jose Gimenez who has been suffering with a hamstring injury.

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Simeone also revealed Argentina international Thiago Almada, who arrived from Brazilian side Botafogo, has also returned from international duty with a muscle injury, which looks set to rule him out of their trip to Liverpool.

Reacting to the latter in particular, Simeone said: "Footballers are athletes; these situations can happen in any national team.

There was palpable anxiety in the stands of the Wanda Metropolitano, which will host this season's Champions League final, during their opening La Liga matches.

Diego Simeone has clashed with Arne Slot before when the Liverpool manager was still managing Feyenoord(Image: 2020 Soccrates Images B.V.)

When asked about the mood of the fans, Simeone said: "I don’t expect anything; when you expect in life, you despair.

We need to work so that people identify with the team.

"As for the affection the fans have shown me, I've been grateful since I arrived in '94, and I'm the one who has to keep giving the people what they expect from our team."

However, the Argentine has not given up on winning La Liga and potentially lifting the Champions League in their own stadium.