Liverpool v Atletico Madrid Tips: Best bets for the Champions League clash from Anfield

The most exciting tie of Wednesday’s Champions League slate comes to us from Merseyside, as Liverpool welcome Atletico Madrid to Anfield.

Just two weeks after their enthralling encounter at the Wanda Metropolitano, the two sides go head-to-head once again as they each look to make their way into the knockout stages.

On show are two of the world’s greatest managers, in Jurgen Klopp and Diego Simeone, coaching two of the best goalscorers of the last decade in Mohamed Salah and Luis Suarez.

The former has started the season in electric form and has shown no signs of slowing down since opening his account against Norwich on the first weekend of the Premier League season. The Egyptian has notched 15 times in his 13 appearances for Liverpool so far this season, adding six assists, and has looked at his imperious best throughout - dancing beyond defenders like only few can. He’s only failed to register a goal or assist once in those 13 games, which has included five goals in just three Champions League starts to take his tally in the competition to 30 in 46 games for Liverpool.

Suarez has been no slouch himself, though. The ex-Liverpool striker, who has scored once and been booked twice when facing his former side, has bagged seven times in his 10 starts for Atleti so far this year. It’s taken his tally to 28 in 46 starts for the Colchoneros since joining for La Liga rivals Barcelona. He won’t have fond memories of his last visit to Anfield though, having crashed out of the semi-finals in a crushing 4-0 defeat the last time he was there.

His teammates, on the other hand, have much fonder memories - with Adrian’s disaster-class handing them a 3-2 last 16 victory less than 18 months ago.

Funnily enough, the same referee takes charge of this one. Dutch official Danny Makkelie didn’t show any cards in that game until extra-time, but he’s been a lot less lenient in the competition since then. The Eredivisie-regular has shown 51 yellows and two reds in his 10 UCL games over the past two seasons and dished out an astonishing five penalties in eight matches last term.

Unfortunately for us, a few of the usual bookings suspects are sidelined for this one. James Milner misses out for Liverpool, alongside Naby Keita and Harvey Elliot. Fabinho hasn’t featured since the reverse fixture two weeks ago whilst Thiago Alcantara has missed over a month of action, meaning it’s unlikely either starts.

It leaves the Reds rather light in midfield, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones likely to partner captain Jordan Henderson in the centre of the park.

For Atletico, Thomas Lemar and Marcos Llorente miss out once again and Antoine Griezmann is suspended for his UFC-style head kick on Roberto Firmino in that game in Madrid.

Stefan Savic should make his first Champions League start of the season though having served his suspension, and Simeone will be hopeful that Geoffrey Kondogbia is fit enough to provide a commanding boot in central midfield.

Both of these sides are scoring for fun at the minute but what they’re struggling to do is keep opponents out. The home side have conceded in four of their last five at Anfield, whilst Atletico have conceded in all of their away games this season. Simeone’s side aren’t the defensive wall they once were, and they've allowed their opponents to score two or more in three of their last four, whilst Klopp’s side have allowed it in three of those four games at Anfield. (Both Teams to Score 2+ is worth a dabble at 9/2.)

As far as the cards are concerned, the visitors have seen two or more in all of their away league matches, at an average of 4.9 per game.

I spoke above about Salah’s recent goal-scoring exploits and I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see him find the net once again tonight. He ran the Atletico defence ragged in their last meeting, including Geoffrey Kondogbia.

The bruising midfielder could be in for a return to the starting XI tonight after time out with a groin issue, with Simeone probably looking to bolster his side’s defensive output. He’s started seven games this season and picked up seven bookings. His standalone price of 5/2 is much bigger than it should be.

Is there a bigger sh*those in world football than Luis Suarez?

He travels back to Anfield to face Liverpool for only the 2nd time in his career and, as I mentioned above, he’s scored once and been booked twice in the three games in which he’s faced them.

Over the season, he’s scored seven and picked up four bookings - including one as a substitute against The Reds two weeks ago.

This is a big emotional game for him where Anfield will be rocking and, considering he’s seen this happen twice in 10 starts this year already, I like the 12/1 for it to happen again here.