It’s time for Jurgen Klopp and company to restart the defense of their European title. We’re now just hours away from kickoff at the Wanda Metropolitano, where Liverpool FC will battle Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their UCL round of 16 tie. Let’s cover all the bases and preview this match, which will mark just the fifth meeting between the two sides in European history.
Klopp earlier confirmed that he has no new fitness concerns for this match, as every player who featured in the weekend winner over Norwich City will be available again. “Good, exactly the same. All on board and available, cool,” the German told Liverpoolfc.com, and that means Xherdan Shaqiri (calf) and Nathaniel Clyne (knee) are the only absentees.
As for Atletico they will again be without the services of injured forwards Diego Costa and Joao Felix, while ex-Tottenham defender and English international Kieran Trippier will miss out due to a groin issue.
Liverpool FC Starting XI Prediction at Atletico Madrid
Mane Firmino Salah
Wijnaldum Henderson Fabinho
Robertson Van Dijk Gomez Alexander-Arnold
Alisson
Liverpool FC at Atletico Madrid UCL Round of 16 FYIs
February 18, 8 pm, Wanda Metropolitano
Form Guide: Liverpool LWWWDW Atletico Madrid DWWLLW
TV/Stream: BT Sport in the UK, TNT in the USA
Prediction: Liverpool 1, Atletico Madrid
The Reds just can’t be stopped right now
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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