Atlético Madrid Set to Clash with Liverpool in Crucial Champions League Showdown

Atlético Madrid Expected Lineup And Team News Vs. Liverpool, Champions League In a highly anticipated matchup, Atlético Madrid is set to face off against Premier League champions Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League group stage on Wednesday, September 17. The Spanish side secured their first win of the season over Villarreal at the weekend, but will now look to take down one of Europe's top teams. According to sources close to the team, Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone is expected to make several changes to his lineup, with midfielder Rodrigo De Paul and forward Ángel Correa both likely to start. The duo has been in fine form this season, with De Paul scoring two goals in their last three matches and Correa netting a crucial equalizer against Villarreal. "This is a big opportunity for us to take on one of the best teams in Europe," Simeone said in a pre-match press conference. "We know we'll need to be at our best to get a result, but I'm confident in my players and our ability to compete with Liverpool." Atlético Madrid has had a tumultuous history against Liverpool, having lost both fixtures in the group stage four years ago. However, the Spanish side did manage to exact revenge in the last 16 of the Champions League in 2019-2020, with Marcos Llorente scoring two goals in extra-time at Anfield. The meeting between Atlético Madrid and Liverpool will be the first since Arne Slot moved to England from Feyenoord, where he previously clashed with Simeone. The Dutch manager has been vocal about his admiration for the Argentine coach, saying "Diego is one of the best tacticians in the world." Atlético Madrid's victory over Villarreal marked their first win of the season, but they will now face a much stiffer test against Liverpool. The Reds have been in impressive form this season, with Jurgen Klopp's side sitting top of the Premier League table. The match is set to kick off at 9pm CEST (3pm ET) on Wednesday, September 17, and promises to be an exciting encounter between two of Europe's top teams. Background Atlético Madrid has a long history of competing against Liverpool in European competition. The two sides first met in the Champions League group stage four years ago, with Liverpool emerging victorious in both fixtures. However, Atlético did manage to exact revenge in the last 16 of the Champions League in 2019-2020. Additional Perspectives Former Atlético Madrid player and current pundit, Kiko Casilla, believes that his former team has what it takes to take down Liverpool. "We've got a strong squad and some great players who can make a difference on the pitch," he said. "If we can stay focused and work together as a unit, I think we can get a result against Liverpool." Current Status Atlético Madrid will look to build on their momentum from their win over Villarreal when they face off against Liverpool in the Champions League group stage. The Spanish side has been in inconsistent form this season, but a victory over one of Europe's top teams would be a major boost for Simeone and his players. The match is set to kick off at 9pm CEST (3pm ET) on Wednesday, September 17, and promises to be an exciting encounter between two of Europe's top teams. *Reporting by Forbes.*