Liverpool will aim to complete a memorable double over Atletico Madrid when they welcome the La Liga champions to Anfield for Wednesday's Champions League Group B encounter.
The Reds prevailed 3-2 at the Wanda Metropolitano last month but found themselves frustrated against Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend.
Match preview
© Reuters
Gone are the days of Atletico Madrid's unmatched defensive discipline, as Liverpool hotshot Mohamed Salah was up to his old tricks at the Wanda Metropolitano to put his side 1-0 up before a Naby Keita stunner in the 13th minute doubled the Reds' advantage.
A nonstop first half would then see Antoine Griezmann pull his side level with a brace before half time, but after the Frenchman saw red with 52 minutes on the clock, Salah dispatched the game-winning penalty following Mario Hermoso's clumsy challenge on Diogo Jota.
However, as Salah's remarkable 10-game goalscoring run came to an end against Brighton, so did Liverpool's four-game winning streak, as Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane's goals were cancelled out by Enock Mwepu and Leandro Trossard's strikes.
While that draw represents an early dent in Liverpool's title bid, Jurgen Klopp's side are sitting pretty at the top of Group B in the Champions League and can guarantee progress into the knockout rounds with all three points on Wednesday.
Liverpool may have thrown away two points against Brighton in a frustrating manner, but that result at least marked their 24th consecutive game without defeat in all competitions, and Klopp has now witnessed his side score at least two goals in their last 12 games across all tournaments.
© Reuters
From a dampening defeat to Liverpool, an uninspiring goalless stalemate with Porto and a last-gasp win over AC Milan, Atletico have not exactly dazzled and delighted in the Champions League this term.
Ahead of matchday four, Diego Simeone's side have collected four points, scored four goals and conceded four in European action this term, and the second-placed Rojiblancos only sit above Iberian counterparts Porto on goal difference.
The La Liga champions struggled to get over the line throughout much of October but do at least travel to Anfield on the back of a dominant 3-0 La Liga win over Real Betis, with Yannick Carrasco, Joao Felix and German Pezzella's own goal seeing Atletico to a comfortable success.
Victory over Betis marked the sixth game in a row across all tournaments that Atletico managed to chalk up at least two goals - although their attacking prowess will take a hit with Griezmann now absent for this clash - but the visitors can look back on their previous Anfield encounter with unbridled fondness.
Mere days before the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the footballing landscape, Atletico knocked then-holders Liverpool out of the tournament with a thrilling 3-2 success on Merseyside as Alvaro Morata and Marcos Llorente stole the show on the night.
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- D
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- D
- D
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Luckless Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita returned from injury in time to start against Brighton but lasted just 19 minutes of that draw before being taken off with a hamstring issue.
The Guinea international is sure to miss out here alongside James Milner and Harvey Elliott, and it remains to be seen if Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara will be cleared to start as Klopp continues to cope with an injury crisis in midfield.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could therefore start alongside Henderson and Curtis Jones this week, while Jota will hope to displace Roberto Firmino at the tip of the attack.
Atletico striker Griezmann joins Stefan Savic on the naughty step for this fixture, although Wednesday's game marks the latter's final game of a lengthy European ban.
2020 Anfield hero Llorente is unlikely to be passed fit for this encounter, while Thomas Lemar has been ruled out by Simeone and Geoffrey Kondogbia remains sidelined due to concussion.
Felipe ought to join Jose Gimenez and Hermoso in the back three if Kondogbia cannot feature as an emergency centre-back, while Angel Correa, Felix and Luis Suarez should all feature up top in Griezmann's absence.
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Jota, Mane
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Felipe, Gimenez, Hermoso; Trippier, De Paul, Koke, Carrasco; Felix, Suarez, Correa
We say: Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Neither Simeone nor Klopp will be thrilled at the way that their sides have defended this season, and it is difficult to envisage a low-scoring affair in a crucial qualification battle.
Griezmann's absence will hurt the visitors immensely on the attacking front - especially given that he chalked up both of his side's goals in the first meeting with Liverpool - and we are backing the Reds' wealth of quality attacking options to see them to victory and a spot in the last 16.
Top tip
Ben Knapton
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Liverpool win with a probability of 52.09%. A draw had a probability of 26.4% and a win for Atletico Madrid had a probability of 21.47%.
The most likely scoreline for a Liverpool win was 1-0 with a probability of 14.5%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (10.71%) and 2-1 (9.04%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (12.23%), while for an Atletico Madrid win it was 0-1 (8.28%). The actual scoreline of 2-0 was predicted with a 10.7% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Liverpool would win this match.
