Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Preview

The focus will be on Anfield on Wednesday night for the Champions League showdown between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid. Liverpool won the reverse fixture 3-2 and they are 5 points clear at the top of the table with 9 points. Diego Simeone’s side have 4 points and they badly need to get a positive result. The oddsmakers have the hosts priced up at 1.72. The draw is 4.1, and Atletico are as big as 5.5 to win. Matches between these two sides are always must watch affairs, hopefully this is no exception. Check out our Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid preview and betting tip below.

Liverpool

Liverpool come into this game on the back of a 2-2 home draw at Anfield vs Brighton. Yet again, it was a Jekyll and Hyde performance. In the first 30 minutes or so they were red hot and goals from Henderson and Mane put them 2-0 up. Mane was then penalised for handball for a goal that would have put Liverpool 3-0 in front. After that, the game changed completely.

With 10 minutes left in the first half, Enoch Mwepu fired in a sensational goal from long range. Trossard deservedly equalised 20 minutes after half-time and Brighton were causing Liverpool all sorts of problems. It was pretty similar to the Atletico match in Spain a couple of weeks previously. Liverpool went 2-0 up in that too but Atletico got it back to 2-2. The Spaniards looked by far the most likely winners until Griezmann’s red card.

The Reds eventually prevailed 3-2 thanks to a late (and stupid) penalty. However, the defensive cracks that were apparent in the games against City (first half), AC Milan, Brentford and even Crystal Palace were visible again. Van Dijk still isn’t back to full speed and this, along with a lack of intensity in the press further upfield, means Liverpool’s high line is being exploited. Thiago and Fabinho are both fit again and they’ll make a difference if they play. But, will it be enough to beat Atletico?

Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone’s side pushed Liverpool all the way in the reverse fixture. Plenty of teams would have folded after conceding two in 13 minutes but that isn’t how Atletico roll. By the 20th minute Griezmann had pulled one back and 14 minutes later the Frenchman drew them level. Virgil Van Dijk looked like he was chasing shadows at times but he’ll be relieved Griezmann is now suspended after his red card for a high foot in the 52nd minute.

Even after they had been reduced to 10 men, Atleti looked the most dangerous team. They created numerous chances and Alisson was forced to make some brilliant saves. Atletico will undoubtedly miss Griezmann on Wednesday night. His pace and movement gave Liverpool headaches at the back and he is a big loss. They’ll also be missing Kondogbia, Lemar and Marcos Llorente at Anfield.

Simeone’s side are renowned for their mean defence but they haven’t looked watertight at the back in recent weeks. They had leaked 7 goals in 3 games before keeping just their 5th clean sheet of the season at the weekend in a 3-0 win vs Betis. If their defence can handle the inevitable early Liverpool onslaught without falling too far behind, Atleti are more than capable of getting a decent result tonight.

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Possible Lineups

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Jones, Mane, Jota, Salah.

Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Felipe, Hermoso, Gimenez, Trippier, Carrasco, Koke, De Paul, Correa, Felix, Suarez.

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Betting Tip

Last season Atletico dumped Liverpool out of the Champions League at Anfield. They won 3-2 after extra time and it was a full house, just like it will be tonight. The atmosphere at Anfield, especially on European nights, can be very intimidating and some teams freeze. However, Atletico are not the sort of side that will show any fear. I think both teams will score tonight but I am torn between whether to go for the draw/btts or Atletico/btts.

Liverpool would be more than happy with a point and though they’d love to get the win, a draw would probably satisfy Simeone too. However, if Atletico had kept 11 men on the pitch in the 3-2 home defeat, there was only going to be one winner. Simeone knows exactly how to exploit Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities and even with Griezmann out, you’d have to fancy them to score a couple tonight. If they defend better than they did in Madrid, they are capable of winning this game. The 8/1 on offer about Atletico to win and both teams to score looks massive and those odds are too tempting to turn down.

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Betting Tip: Atletico win/both teams to score @ 8/1 (W Hill/Betfair Sportsbook)

-DaveStevos