Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool predictions, live stream options & confirmed XIs
European champions Liverpool return to the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday as they lock horns with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last-16 first leg.
Jurgen Klopp‘s side last visited the impeccable 68,000-seated venue in June for the 2018/19 final, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Spanish capital and lifting a sixth European crown in the process.
The landscape is quite different this time around with the Anfield club set to take on an Atleti side who have lost just once on home turf in La Liga this season. The capital club haven’t been quite as convincing this season under Diego Simeone, but the Wanda Metropolitano remains a sanctuary for the club.
Atleti are currently fourth in La Liga, but they’ve reached the final of this competition on two occasions during Simeone’s reign, while marvels such as Koke and Saul means the club can beat anyone on their day – even Premier League champions-elect Liverpool.
Read on for Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool live stream options, TV match coverage information, predictions and team news.
When is Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool and where can I watch live?
Competition: Champions League (last-16 first leg)
Venue: Wanda Metropolitano
Date: Tuesday, 18 February 2020
Kick-off: 8:00 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): BT Sport 2
Online & live stream options: UK audiences with a BT Sport subscription can watch online or live stream through their app.
Last four meetings: Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool
29 Apr 2010: Liverpool 2-1 Atleti (Europa League)
22 Apr 2010: Atleti 1-0 Liverpool (Europa League)
04 Nov 2008: Liverpool 1-1 Atleti (Champions League)
22 Oct 2008: Atleti 1-1 Liverpool (Champions League)
Aggregate Score: Atleti (LWDD) 4-4 Liverpool (WLDD)
Ones to watch
Atletico Madrid: Jan Oblak
Atletico Madrid have conceded just 17 La Liga goals this season, the second-least of any club in the Spanish top-flight, and they largely have Jan Oblak to thank for that formidable record. Atleti’s goal-shy form this campaign has certainly been overshadowed by the imperious work by the man between the sticks, Oblak, who has consistently hauled his side out of trouble and saved numerous points.
An archetypal Simeone side is hard to break down, so it can be frustrating for opposition teams when an opening is finally found but Oblak is there to thwart any danger. Klopp and Co are well versed in the art of breaking down organised and compact defences, but in Oblak they face a different proposition altogether. This will not be your run-of-the-mill attack versus defence as Atleti boast talent up-top and a bulwark at the back.
Key stat: Jan Oblak has kept more clean sheets than any goalkeeper in La Liga this season (11).
Liverpool: Jordan Henderson
With the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah flourishing at one end, and Alisson and Virgil van Dijk shining at the other, the unselfish exploits of Jordan Henderson can largely go under the radar, but this season the Liverpool skipper has made headlines in equal measure for his sheer ruthlessness, determination and unrelenting work rate.
No player encapsulates the fervent emotion of Klopp on the sidelines more than Henderson, who plays with his heart on his sleeve and rallies the troops in a fashion not too dissimilar to Liverpool captains of old.
Under the lights in Madrid and in front of a hostile yet boisterous Atleti crowd, Henderson’s composure, experience and authority will be key if the Merseysiders are to come back to England with a convincing scoreline for the return leg.
Key stat: Jordan Henderson has made more passes in the Premier League than any other Liverpool midfielder (1560).
Team news
Atletico Madrid
Simeone is boosted by the return of Diego Costa, who has been named among the substitutes alongside Jose Gimenez. Felipe and Stefan Savic are preferred in central defence.
Koke and Alvaro Morata have also returned from the sidelines and start here. However, this match comes too soon for Joao Felix, Kieran Trippier and Hector Herrera.
Confirmed XI: Oblak; Vrsaljko, Savic, Felipe, Lodi; Koke, Saul, Thomas, Lemar; Correa, Morata.
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Liverpool
Sadio Mane returned and scored on Saturday as Liverpool edged Norwich 1-0 in a tight contest and he makes the starting XI in the Spanish capital. Georginio Wijnaldum is preferred over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield alongside Fabinho and Henderson.
Centre-back Joel Matip has been named among the substitutes.
The only absentees Klopp has to contend with are Xherdan Shaqiri and Nathaniel Clyne.
Confirmed XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Squawka prediction
Liverpool have been in stellar form this season and look simply untouchable at this present moment, while Atleti have had an up-and-down campaign to say the least.
That said, the Wanda Metropolitano is an infamously difficult place to venture for opposing teams so we expect a hard-pressed night for the visitors.
Liverpool will be happy with a draw heading into the second leg, such is their confidence of playing at Anfield under the lights, and that’s the most probable outcome here.
We’ve picked out four predictions for the Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool game with LeoVegas*:
