Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has warned his players not to be caught cold again as Liverpool hosts Atletico Madrid in a crucial Champions League match on Wednesday
Diego Simeone will lead Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday
Diego Simeone will lead Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday(Image: Getty Images)
Diego Simeone has cautioned Atletico Madrid against being caught off guard by Liverpool at "marvelous" Anfield, while also commending the instant influence of Andoni Iraola.
For the second consecutive campaign, the Reds kick off their Champions League journey at home to the Spanish team on Wednesday. While Liverpool enters the game following a 2-0 triumph at Ipswich secured by two early Alexander Isak strikes, Atletico suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao over the weekend.
In last season's Anfield encounter, Simeone's men found themselves two goals behind after just six minutes but rallied to draw level before succumbing to a late Virgil van Dijk header.
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Simeone commented: "I don't think it has been motivation what happened to us in Bilbao, it was a lack of awareness, switching off.
"We are coming into a marvelous stadium, a great atmosphere, we have to look at the start of the game as it will be full on."
Atletico faces difficulties in attack with Alexander Sorloth sidelined through injury, Jonathan David yet to appear — having only arrived on loan from Juventus last week — and Julian Alvarez still not prepared to start following his unsuccessful bid to engineer a transfer to Barcelona.
Simeone is hoping for a famous victory at Anfield
Simeone is hoping for a famous victory at Anfield(Image: Getty Images)
"Julian is getting better - I don't see he could start tomorrow, but (what) I am sure of is he could help at some point in the game," said Simeone.
The fixture marks new Liverpool head coach Iraola's debut in the Champions League as a manager, and Simeone believes there are already clear indications that his Anfield counterpart is beginning to leave his mark.
"When you go to a new team, you always have great excitement, and it is true that he is getting that across to the players, and it is true he has that advantage over me," said the Atletico boss.
"I see that he is trying to get across all of the things he has put into other teams.
"He works really hard for his team in terms of the tactical elements to make sure everyone is involved in the play.
"Everything takes time to find the right path, but he is improving. The last game, they improved.
"He is a really important coach, and he has that clarity in terms of what he wants, and I am sure he will get that across to his players.
"There are teams that have tendencies: intensity, aggression – which is what Liverpool have, and Atletico in the last few years have transmitted that feeling of playing that well."