(VIDEO) All Goals From Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League

Atlético de Madrid heads to Anfield for a challenging start to the 2025 Champions League. Without Julián Álvarez, Johnny Cardoso, Álex Baena, Thiago Almada, or José María Giménez, Diego Simeone will need to reinvent his starting lineup to face Liverpool at the historic venue, which evokes memories of past heroics but also presents extreme challenges.

Julián Álvarez, who scored 29 goals last season, was ruled out of the squad due to knee discomfort. Cardoso is sidelined with an ankle sprain, while Baena, Almada, and Giménez were already ruled out earlier.

Griezmann Takes Charge in Attack

With “La Araña” absent, Antoine Griezmann will take on the role of the main striker at Anfield, while Koke is expected to fill in for Cardoso in midfield. Another major question mark is at left-back: David Hancko, dealing with ankle discomfort, or Javi Galán.

The lineup will be rounded out with Nico González and Giuliano Simeone on the wings, alongside the energy of Conor Gallagher and Pablo Barrios in midfield. In goal, Jan Oblak, who will reach 500 appearances for Atlético, returns to the stadium where he delivered one of his most memorable performances in 2020.

Liverpool, a Top Favorite in the 2025 Champions League

Arne Slot’s Liverpool is among the leading contenders for the title after investing nearly 500 million euros in transfers. High-profile signings like Alexander Isak (150M), Florian Wirtz (120M), Hugo Ekitike (95M), and Jeremie Frimpong (40M) bolster a squad that already dominated the 2024/25 Premier League.

The Reds are unbeaten in the league with four wins, though their victories have come with a dose of drama. With Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk renewed and a roster many consider the most complete in Europe, Liverpool is a formidable force.

Recent History Between Liverpool and Atlético in the Champions League

Atlético de Madrid knows what it’s like to make history at Anfield, as they did in 2020 with an unforgettable extra-time victory thanks to Marcos Llorente. However, they haven’t reached the Champions League semifinals since 2017, and recent eliminations have left a bitter taste.

This Wednesday, the challenge is monumental: defeating the top contender in their own stadium with a squad plagued by absences.