« on: November 3, 2021, 06:41:40 pm »
MATCH PREVIEW - Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid
Date: Wednesday 03 November 2021
Kick Off/TV 8.00pm, BT Sports
Venue:
Officials
Referee: Danny Makkelie (NED)
Assistants: Hessel Steegstra (NED), Jan de Vries (NED)
Fourth Official: Dennis Hgler (NED)
VAR Official: Pol van Boekel (NED)
Assistant VAR Official: Jochem Kamphuis (NED)
Champions League Form Guide
Liverpool - WWW
Atletico Madrid - DWL
Recent Meetings
19/10/2021 - Atletico Madrid 2-3 Liverpool
13/03/2020 - Liverpool 2-3 Atletico Madrid
18/02/2020 - Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
Match Preview
Cast your minds back to 13 March 2020. There was an awareness that Covid-19 was now on it's way to UK shores, but there was still some element of the unknown as to just what it may entail for the country. The UK Government continued to allow sporting events to take place in front of large crowds, and a packed house descended on Anfield ahead of what we hoped would be another chapter in it's glorious European history. 3,000 Atletico fans were allowed to attend, despite the outbreak reaching Madrid.
Liverpool would exit the competition that evening, and Anfield wouldn't see a capacity crowd again for some 17 months.
There were some truly desperate times for families across the UK, and the wider world, in that period. I for one will never take these occasions for granted again. Atletico Madrid are the visitors, and the Reds have a wonderful chance to secure an early passage to the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition.
We are well aware of the challenge that a Diego Simeone team brings by now. Tough, defensive football, in your face, in the refs face, feigning all sorts of injuries, led of course from the front by our old friend, Luis Suarez. In many ways, the antithesis of how Klopp sets his men up. The two sides threw up a surprising thriller on Matchday Three, the Reds racing into a two goal lead before being pegged back. Antoine Griezmann was shown a red card for a reckless high boot, before Mo Salah secured a huge win from the spot. Three points again and it's job done.
For Liverpool's part, there have been some shades of the early Klopp football, with games reflecting some of the barnstormers we had in 2017/18. There have been points dropped from winning positions against Brentford, Brighton and Man City, which you wouldn't associate with the later Klopp sides. The Reds continue to score freely however, scoring no less than three goals in each away fixture so far, including a recent 5-0 drubbing of Manchester United. It may take two or three goals again to settle this one.
Atletico come into this one on the back of 3-0 win against Real Betis, with Joao Felix only appearing as a late substitute for Suarez.
Team News
Naby Keita (hamstring) will join James Milner and Harvey Elliott on the sidelines. Fabinho remains a doubt and Thiago, who was seemingly set to return to the bench at the weekend, sat out again altogether.
Antoine Griezmann misses out for the visitors following his red card in the return fixture. Joao Felix and Luis Suarez will continue to pose a formidable threat up front.
Predicted Line-Up
I think there may be a shift in formation here with the midfield injuries, with Firmino potentially dropping back into the 10.
(4-2-3-1) Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Jones, Firmino, Salah, Mane, Jota
Writers Prediction
What an opportunity to secure an early passage to the last 16, and all but win the group after only four fixtures. 2-1 to the Red Men, Salah and Mane with one apiece.
YNWA
« Last Edit: November 3, 2021, 08:22:46 pm by TepidT2O »
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