Liverpool have been handed a big boost ahead of their Champions League opener as their opponents on Wednesday night, Atletico Madrid, revealed their travelling squad.
The La Liga outfit have five key names sidelined for their trip to Anfield, as Diego Simeone’s side take on the Premier League champions for the first time since December 2021.
Atleti have had a patchy start to the campaign in the Spanish top flight, winning just one of their opening four games.
In their last two encounters with Liverpool, Atletico have been beaten both times, first at Anfield in a 2-0 defeat where Felipe saw red, and then in a narrow 3-2 loss where Antoine Griezmann was given his marching orders.
Now, they travel back to Merseyside a few men light, looking for a more positive result this time around.
They are missing some of their big hitters, however, including former Man City striker Julian Alvarez, who was taken off in their 2-0 win over Villarreal last weekend.
Jose Maria Gimenez, Alex Baena, Thiago Almada and Johnny Cardoso are also all unavailable, although David Hancko, who was himself withdrawn against Villarreal, is in the squad.
Liverpool fans are waiting in ancitipation on Alexander Isak’s debut, and the Swede could be in line to make his bow after he was omitted from the matchday squad against Burnley. where the Reds won 1-0.
Fellow new recruits Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike could also all be in contention to make their first European appearances for the club.
