Source: TheGuardian
Atlético Madrid v Liverpool: Champions League last 16 – live!
Live first-leg updates from the 8pm GMT kick-offDortmund v PSG – live with Simon Burnton!And do get in touch! Email Barry or tweet him 7.00pm GMT I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn when I say Jurgen Klopp has selected the team most Liverpool fans were expecting. TEAM NEWS Our side to face @Atleti tonight #ATLLIV #UCL 6.55pm GMT Angel Correa and Alvaro Morata start up front for the hosts, while Diego Costa has to settle for a place on the bench.[] to represent the Atleti Family tonight ⚽ #AtletiLFC⭐ #UCL⚪ #AúpaAtleti pic.twitter.com/GtSavk44Mm 6.48pm GMT Jonathan Wilson, Flo Lloyd-Hughes and yours truly were in the studio alongside host Max Rushden for yesterday’s episode of our Football Weekly podcast, while David Conn, Sid Lowe, Archie Rhind-Tutt and Nicky Bandini contributed from further afield. You can listen here and if you’re not already a subscriber, sign up in all the usual podcast places. Related: Manchester City's ban, the race for fifth and more – Football Weekly 6.48pm GMT Related: ‘We want to be in Istanbul': Klopp urges Liverpool to meet Atlético head on 6.48pm GMT “As you know, we deal with things one game at a time here,” said Atletico’s manager. “We will cross each bridge when we get there. We are facing a magnificent team, well trained by a coach with a difference. He can play counter, possession, they are strong in the air. I have no doubt this Liverpool side will go down in history as a great team. They are different to teams we have admired in the past. They are intense, adaptable. 6.48pm GMT “This is one of the most difficult fixtures in the life of a football player,” said Liverpool’s manager during yesterday’s pre-match press duties. “Atlético are a really well organised, well-oiled machine who are amazing at squeezing results. They are in a transition period, that’s normal, but they are fighting with all they have. It’s really difficult. 6.48pm GMT “We know how we can hurt Liverpool, their strengths and weaknesses, and we always compete against big teams,” said Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez, in a wide-ranging interview with Sid Lowe. Related: Atlético's Saúl Níguez: 'We know how we can hurt Liverpool' | Sid Lowe 6.48pm GMT Diego Simeone approaches this week’s tie against a Liverpool team whose high-tempo pressing style has come to define the modern age finding his methods being seriously questioned for the first time, writes Jonathan Wilson ... Related: Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid tackle Liverpool in battle of opposites | Jonathan Wilson 6.48pm GMT Related: Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid tackle Liverpool in battle of opposites | Jonathan Wilson 6.47pm GMT Having been on the TOttenham HOtspur side that lost in last season’s final against Liverpool, Kieran Trippier will have to make do with a view from the sidelines as he is currently recovering from groin surgery. The right-back was in St George’s Park undergoing rehab last week, but this game has come too soon for him.Atlético will also be without their £113m summer signing Joao Felix, who has recovered from a muscle injury but has now been struck down by a virus affecting his tonsils. Hector Herrera is also expected to miss out, while Alvaro Morata and Diego Costa will be assessed ahead of today’s game. 11.02am GMT With the Premier League as good is in the bag, not that anyone at the club is prepared to admit it, Liverpool are more or less free to focus on retaining the Champions League title they won at the Wanda Metropolitano last season.They return to the scene of their sixth European triumph to face an Atlético Madrid side that are not in the best of form, fourth in La Liga with just one win in their past seven games in all competitions. Diego Simeone’s side are no mugs, however, and will be hoping to Liverpool’s first defeat in 11 knockout ties under Jürgen Klopp. Kick-off is at 8pm (GMT) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up. Continue reading......read full article
