Team news and stats ahead of Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid in the Champions League group stage on Wednesday; kick-off 8pm.
Team news
Liverpool have been boosted by the return to training after injury of midfielders Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara, having lost Naby Keita to a hamstring problem at the weekend.
Keita will be “out for a while” with the hamstring injury the Liverpool midfielder picked up in Saturday’s draw with Brighton, Jurgen Klopp says.
James Milner and Harvey Elliott remain out, meaning Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could start alongside Jordan Henderson and Curtis Jones.
Atletico Madrid have Antoine Griezmann and Stefan Savic banned, while Marcos Llorente is unlikely to be passed fit.
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Emery in talks to become Newcastle manager
Blatter, Platini charged with fraud over GBP1.6m payment
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Thomas Lemar is out, while Geoffrey Kondogbia is a doubt due to concussion.
How to follow
Follow live updates on SkySports.com and the Sky Sports App from 6.30pm on Wednesday; kick-off 8pm. Also follow on Gillette Soccer Special live on Sky Sports News and Sky Sports Premier League from 7pm.
Simeone: I don’t like falseness of handshakes
Jurgen Klopp should not expect a post-match handshake from Diego Simeone at Anfield on Wednesday as the Atletico Madrid boss believes they are ‘false’.
After his side’s 3-2 win over Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano a fortnight ago, the Reds boss could only watch on as his opposite number darted down the tunnel at the final whistle without any acknowledgement.
Klopp was initially annoyed but later played down any long-lasting tension – but Simeone has said post-match pleasantries are just not something he wants to be involved in.
“I don’t like the greeting after the match because they are the emotions of two sides in different emotional minds,” he said.
“I know in the UK it is a custom but I don’t share it and I don’t like the falseness it may include.
“I don’t know Klopp as a person very well but I know he is a great coach who has done great work at every club he has been at.”
Opta stats
Liverpool registered their first win over Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League last time out (3-2 at the Wanda Metropolitano), having drawn two and lost two of their first four meetings in the competition.Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in their previous two games against Liverpool at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League (W1 D1), including a 3-2 victory in the Round of 16 on their last trip there in March 2020.Liverpool have only won two of their 13 home games against Spanish opponents in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League (D6 L5), although one of their two did come during Jurgen Klopp’s reign – a 4-0 win over Barcelona in May 2019.Atletico Madrid have lost just once in their last six away trips to face English opponents in European competition (W2 D3), however that defeat did come in their most recent one – a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Round of 16 last season.Liverpool have only lost two of their 22 home games in the UEFA Champions League under Jurgen Klopp (W15 D5), however one of those came against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, losing 3-2 in the Round of 16 in 2019-20 to be eliminated from the tournament.Atletico Madrid have won their last two away games in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, and will be looking to win three in row on the road in the competition for only the second time under Diego Simeone (previously three between 2015 and 2016).