Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid predicted XI: Fabinho and Sadio Mane to start

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 10: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) obere Reihe, goalkeeper Alisson Becker of FC Liverpool, Dejan Lovren of FC Liverpool, Virgil Van Dijk of FC Liverpool, Mohamed Salah of FC Liverpool, Roberto Firmino of FC Liverpool, Sadio Mane of FC Liverpool, untere Reihe, Naby Keita of FC Liverpool, Georginio Wijnaldum of FC Liverpool, Jordan Henderson of FC Liverpool, Andy Robertson of FC Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold of FC Liverpool Teamphoto during the UEFA Champions League group E match between RB Salzburg and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

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NORWICH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 15: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Norwich City and Liverpool FC at Carrow Road on February 15, 2020 in Norwich, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /

Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane

Sadio Mane was benched against Norwich before coming on and scoring the winning goal. The Senegalese international is back to full fitness and he will be in the starting XI which would see Oxlade-Chamberlain either being on the bench or starting as a midfielder. Mane has been in fine form this season and will be hoping to find the net against Atleti.

His return brings Liverpool back to their full strength of world class attackers, and despite how well Oxlade-Chamberlain has played or Divock Origi, nothing will beat having the former Saints man back in the side.

Mohamed Salah failed to score against Norwich and will be looking to increase his tally of 18 goals on Wednesday. His pace and movement will be crucial if the Reds want to breach the mean defence that Atletico have created.

Next. 1-1,1-1,1-0, 2-1: Reliving past encounters between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid. dark

Roberto Firmino has often engineered scoring opportunities for his teammates and will be expected to do the same while also trying to find the net. He’ll be another key part of the machine that’ll try to pull defenders out of position.

Simeone’s side haven’t scored many goals this season but defense has been their strongest suit as they have conceded only 17 in La Liga. Hence, Liverpool’s forwards won’t find it easy to get past the Atleti defenders.

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