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# Simeone makes Liverpool feelings clear as Atletico boss returns to Anfield

- **Source:** 
- **Published:** 8 Sept
- **Club:** Liverpool
- **Original URL:** https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/diego-simeone-makes-liverpool-feelings-34587439

For the second successive season, the Reds begin their Champions League campaign at home to the Spanish side when they face off on Wednesday evening.

While Liverpool go into the game on the back of a 2-0 win at Ipswich Town earned by two early Alexander Isak goals, Atletico were thumped 3-0 at Athletic Bilbao at the weekend.

In last year's Anfield clash, Simeone's side were two goals down after six minutes but fought back to level before losing to a late Virgil van Dijk header.

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And Simeone said: "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 marvellous stadium, a great atmosphere, we have to look at the start of the game as it will be full on."

Atletico have issues up front with Alexander Sorloth absent injured, Jonathan David yet to feature having only last week arrived on loan from Juventus and Julian Alvarez still not ready to start after his unsuccessful attempt to force through a move to Barcelona.

“Julian is getting better - I don’t see he could start tomorrow but I am sure of is he could help at some point in the game," said Simeone.

The match represents new Liverpool head coach Iraola's first as a manager in the Champions League, and Simone believes there are already signs his Anfield counterpart is starting to make a difference.

“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, who has been in his role for almost 15 years.

"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."

Atletico reached the last four of the Champions League last season where they were beaten by final losers Arsenal and have yet to be named European champions after finishing runners-up three times.

There is the added incentive of the final once again being played in their home stadium the Metroplitano, the venue of Liverpool's sixth and most recent European Cup final triumph in 2019.

And Simeone said: “For the club it is very important that the final is played in the Metropolitano. For us we have to work a great deal if we can begin to hope to be in that privileged position.

"We are in a construction phase, getting used to our surroundings: we have new players coming in, the issue with Alavrez, the arrival of (Jonathan) David at the end of the transfer window - and it all takes time.

"Bit by bit we are starting to find ourselves and we can start to show our best in the games coming up."

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