HUGE BOOST  for Liverpool,Atletico Madrid suffer 4 new injury concerns for Liverpool clash

Atletico Madrid warmed up for their Champions League trip to Liverpool with a 2-0 win over Villarreal, but it may have come at the cost of four new injuries.

Atletico will be Liverpool’s first opponents in the league phase of this season’s Champions League, in an 8pm kickoff at Anfield on Wednesday night.

While Arne Slot‘s side are in perfect form at the start of the new campaign, the same cannot be said of Diego Simeone’s Rojiblancos.

Saturday saw Atletico win their first game of four so far in LaLiga, with a 2-0 victory at home to Villarreal putting them in 11th before their journey to Anfield.

Pablo Barrios and Nicolas Gonzalez got the goals, but the headlines after the match were focused more on the toll it took on Simeone’s squad.

Julian Alvarez (knee), David Hancko (ankle) and Robin Le Normand (back) were all forced off at the weekend along with goalscorer Gonzalez (cramp).

While Le Normand and Gonzalez are considered likely to be in contention, Spanish publication AS have cast doubt over the involvement of both Alvarez and Hancko.

Hancko – a stalwart of Slot’s Feyenoord team – had been rested for the clash with Villarreal but replaced Matteo Ruggeri with 76 minutes on the clock, only to be brought off seven minutes later with a sprained ankle.

Meanwhile Alvarez was substituted at half-time having damaged his knee while assisting Barrios for the opening goal of the game.

Atletico were already without centre-back Jose Maria Gimenez, attacking midfielder Thiago Almada and winger Alex Baena due to injury.

If Simeone cannot call upon Alvarez – at least from the start – he is likely to pair Antoine Griezmann with Alexander Sorloth up front, while Ruggeri would be the obvious stand-in for Hancko at left-back.

Any further issue for Le Normand could be more of a concern as, with Gimenez also out, Simeone would be short of natural centre-back options.

Liverpool are likely to be without Curtis Jones while Stefan Bajcetic is still working his way back to full fitness after surgery on his hamstring.

But there are no other known injuries to Slot’s squad, though Alexis Mac Allister was brought off after a strong challenge from Lesley Ugochukwu in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Burnley.

Slot is expected to make a number of changes for the Champions League opener, including a possible debut from the start for Alexander Isak.

Atletico Madrid vs. Villarreal: Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand (Pubill 77′), Lenglet, Ruggeri (Hancko 76′, Galan 83′); Simeone, Koke, Barrios, Gonzalez (Gallagher 76′); Griezmann, Alvarez (Sorloth 46′)

Subs not used: Musso, Cardoso, Martin, Molina, Raspadori, Monserrate, Gamez

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