ATLETICO MADRID vs LIVERPOOL
Liverpool made two changes as they returned to the scene of last year’s Champions League triumph to face Atletico Madrid.
Sadio Mane returned to the starting line-up after his goalscoring cameo as a substitute at the weekend and Fabinho also featured in the last-16 first-leg clash at the Wanda Metropolitano. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita made way.
Atletico, who are currently fourth in LaLiga, welcomed back striker Alvaro Morata from injury. Another former Chelsea forward, Diego Costa, was on the bench hoping to make his comeback from a hernia problem.
Joao Felix, Atleti’s £114million summer signing was out injured, as was England full-back Kieran Trippier.
- Liverpool are winless in their last five away games against Spanish opposition in Europe
- Sadio Mane has scored 10 goals in 14 Champions League knockout games since 2017-18
- Atletico have never lost at home under Diego Simeone in the Champions League knockout stages
- Atletico have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League six times in seven seasons
Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Vrsaljko, Felipe, Savic, Renan Lodi Saul, Koke, Thomas, Lemar, Morata, Correa.
Subs: Adan, Gimenez Llorente, Costa, Vitolo, Carrasco, Hermoso.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Subs: Milner, Keita, Adrian, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino Origi, Matip.
Ch-ch-ch-changes
Liverpool made two changes as they returned to the scene of last year’s Champions League triumph to face Atletico Madrid.
Sadio Mane returned to the starting line-up after his goalscoring cameo as a substitute at the weekend and Fabinho also featured in the last-16 first-leg clash at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita made way.
Atletico, who are currently fourth in LaLiga, welcomed back striker Alvaro Morata from injury.
Another former Chelsea forward, Diego Costa, was on the bench hoping to make his comeback from a hernia problem.
Joao Felix, Atleti’s £114million summer signing was out injured, as was England full-back Kieran Trippier.
Starting XI
Well Liverpool makes two changes from Saturday’s win over Norwich and you would have to say that Jurgen Klopp fields his strongest possible side.
Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Vrsaljko, Felipe, Savic, Renan Lodi Saul, Koke, Thomas, Lemar, Morata, Correa.
Subs: Adan, Gimenez Llorente, Costa, Vitolo, Carrasco, Hermoso.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Subs: Milner, Keita, Adrian, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino Origi, Matip.
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
The scene(s)
Champions League holders Liverpool return to the scene of their 2019 triumph tonight when they face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their round of 16 tie.
The defending champions and runaway Premier League leaders face a stern test against Diego Simeone’s side.
Tonight will see a clash of styles as Jurgen Klopp’s aggressive pressing and attacking style is put to the test against the defensive, counter-attacking system Simeone favours.
It’s all set up for a cracker in Madrid.
ATLETICO MADRID vs LIVERPOOL
Liverpool have no fresh injury concerns for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at Atletico Madrid.
Striker Sadio Mane came through unscathed after coming off the bench to score on his return to action against Norwich at the weekend.
Midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is still sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Atletico Madrid will be missing key personnel against Liverpool such as record signing Joao Felix and Kieran Trippier, while striker Diego Costa is battling to be fit after a back injury he sustained in November.
Top scorer Alvaro Morata, defender Jose Gimenez and captain Koke are all available for the match against Juergen Klopp’s side but have missed large chunks of the season and only recently returned to action.
Liverpool squad: Alisson, Adrian, Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Gomez, Matip, Robertson, Milner, Henderson, Keita, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Firmino, Mane, Lallana, Origi, Minamino.