Liverpool hope for victorious return to Wanda Metropolitano

For the first time since June 1st, 2019, Liverpool will play at the Wanda Metropolitano the home of Atletico Madrid.

Happy memories reside their alongside a 100% win ratio. Number six came home.

But it was Tottenham, and not the hosts, who they faced on that fateful day. It’s a much, much different proposition.

The popular saying goes: Form is temporary, Class is permanent. Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid will certainly hope this applies to them this time around.

They sit fourth in La Liga behind Getafe and the El Clasico sides but to their standards, its a season to forget and transition past their great teams of the 2010s.

With Diego Godin, Filipe Luis, Lucas Hernandez, Luciano Vietto, Gelson Martins, Rodri and Antoine Griezmann leaving the club just this summer alongside stalwarts like Gabi and Juanfran in recent years, the new era under Diego Simeone has started on a downward curve.

But they still made their way into the knockout stages after finishing runner-up to Juventus and ahead of Bayer Leverkusen.

Unlike last season, Liverpool won their group, beating Napoli and RB Salzburg to top spot.

Team news

Although Nathaniel Clyne and Xherdan Shaqiri are training, they are both unavailable for Liverpool. Barring this, they have a fully fit squad.

Joao Felix, Kieran Trippier and Hector Herrera are unlikely to be available for the hosts, although Diego Costa could feature after returning to training last week.

From the Dugout:

Diego Simeone on Jurgen Klopp:

“I remember his Borussia Dortmund side and now there’s this Liverpool.

“This Liverpool side will go down in history.

“I like this Liverpool side a lot because they’re direct and I admire that.”

Jurgen Klopp on Atleti:

“If there’s one team where you have to be at absolute best, it’s Atletico. They give you absolutely no presents.

“This is one of the most difficult fixtures in the life of a football player. Really well organised, squeezing results.

“They are in a transition period, that’s normal, but they are fighting with all they have. It’s really difficult.”

Head-to-head

Each side have won one of the four matches between the two sides, a 2-1 victory in a Europa League Semi-Final in 2010 which led to an away goals defeat for the Reds.