Anyone else got a sense of déjà vu? For the second season running, matchday one of the Champions League league phase sees Atlético Madrid visit Anfield. 12 months ago, Arne Slot's team raced into a 2-0 lead, Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah on target in the opening six minutes, only for a Marcos Llorente double to fire los Colchoneros level.
Nevertheless, in the 95th minute, Dominik Szoboszlai's corner was headed home by Virgil van Dijk to pinch the three points for the Reds.
This means Liverpool have now won each of their last three meetings with los Rojiblancos, albeit the round of 16 exit against Atleti, in the final match before lockdown, still haunts many supporters. Nevertheless, on Wednesday night, the Reds will be confident of further improving their imperious group stage or league phase record.
Since returning to the competition under Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool have played 26 matches at this stage of the Champions League, winning 22 of them. Their only defeats since 2014 came against Atalanta in lockdown and PSV Eindhoven last November, which perhaps is why the latter felt so shocking.
Well, now led by Andoni Iraola of course, the chances of a home win on Wednesday night might just have increased, given who Diego Simeone will be without.
The Atlético Madrid player unavailable for match vs Liverpool
It has come to light that Atlético Madrid will not be able to call upon the services of Arnau Ortiz at Anfield. He is suspended due to a red card picked up over two years ago. Back in August 2024, Ortiz was sent off in the 23rd minute of injury time, no that is not a typo, as Śląsk Wrocław were eliminated from UEFA Conference League qualifying by St. Gallen at Tarczyński Arena Wrocław.
Given that Ortiz has not been registered by any club to feature in a senior UEFA competition subsequently, he is yet to serve the mandatory one-match ban, thereby suspended here. So, how much of a loss is Ortiz to Diego Simeone?
Well, after a season playing for Atlético Madrileño in the Primera Federación, the club's B team, who operate in the third-tier, he was promoted to the first team this summer. The 24 year old winger then started Atleti's La Liga opener against Málaga, before being introduced as a substitute during away matches at Sevilla and Athletic Club.
Nevertheless, Simeone still has plenty of options to start in wide position in his absence. The manager's son Giuliano Simeone as well as summer signing Lee Kang-in alongside Ademola Lookman and Álex Baena were the starting front four on Saturday, which is not a bad quartet.
However, there is might be no obvious centre-forward once again. Alexander Sørloth is still sidelined due to a muscle injury, while Julián Álvarez is still sulking, after his dream move to Barcelona did not materialise. This has made the Argentine, to put it politely, an unpopular figure among the Atleti fanbase, who do not want him at the club anymore, making those feelings pretty clear.
Julián Alvarez doesn't get the warmest of welcomes as he's introduced off the bench 😬
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) August 23, 2026
Atleti fans can be heard whistling at the Argentine as he makes his way onto the pitch 👀 pic.twitter.com/Pzn4cVH4h0
Despite this, he has featured off the bench during two of their last three matches, but has looked a shadow of his former self, so is unlikely to be a player Liverpool fans should fear. As a result of the whole Álvarez situation, los Rojiblancos signed Jonathan David on loan on deadline day.
The Canadian international was in high demand following his time at Lille, but endured an underwhelming campaign at Juventus, scoring just eight goals for la Vecchia Signora, who were delighted to offload him. Nevertheless, David could debut for Atleti at Anfield on Wednesday, and will be a player for Virgil van Dijk and Jérémy Jacquet to watch out for.
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