The final time Liverpool clashed in opposition to Atletico Madrid was within the 2021-22 version of the Champions League when the 2 golf equipment met within the group stage, the Reds profitable 3-2, then 2-0 at house in a season the place they exceeded their group and succeeded to the ultimate earlier than falling to Actual Madrid.
For a lot of, nevertheless, it is going to be the earlier conferences – the spherical of 16 equally in 2019-2020 which noticed Atleti advance 4-2 on the aggregates after taking the 2 -legged affair for extra time within the second match in Anfield – which is at all times uncomfortable in thoughts. And regardless of the last rating, dealing with a Diego Simeone facet is at all times a tough job.
“It’s a crew that works so arduous, a world class supervisor, he speaks volumes that he has been on this membership for thus lengthy,” mentioned Liverpool captain, Virgil Van Dijk, in regards to the subsequent opponents of his crew. “They’ve world class gamers, a world -class goalkeeper, I can proceed time and again. These are only a very tough crew to beat and by no means surrender.
“That is the mentality they’ve. They could not have the start they need when it comes to the league, however I do know that it is usually the beginning of their marketing campaign and they’ll need to impress, so we now have to be prepared. We now have had a great session at this time and now it’s time to put together us at house and be able to go there tomorrow.”
Atleti is at the moment sitting on the backside of half of the liga after 4 weeks of match with just one victory. Simeone Rojiblancos Could point out a victory over Villarreal leaving the worldwide break of September, however August allowed them to lose in opposition to the Espanyol within the opener earlier than with consecutively withdrawn in opposition to the Elche and Alaves relegation drummers.
They’re a facet that expects everybody to enhance, and one facet and a supervisor who happens traditionally at their finest in opposition to the opposition. For Liverpool, then again, the dialog additionally goals to enhance, nevertheless it comes from a place of pressure as a result of they exceed the Premier League with 4 victories of their first 4 video games.
“Hopefully as shortly as attainable,” added Van Dijk when he was requested for his personal facet not but their finest in 2025-2026. “I’m actually delighted with all of the gamers, of the standard we now have introduced. But it surely takes time, it is completely regular. They’re in a great place – being right here with us is a superb place to be.
“The membership is in a great place. This offers them the chance to precise themselves as shortly as attainable and it’s a good factor. You need to really feel welcome as shortly as attainable as a way to categorical your self in the absolute best means, within the subject particularly, after all, however out of the sector too and I believe it occurs positively.”
