Our prediction for this Champions League match:
All eyes will be on Anfield when Liverpool and Atletico Madrid face each other in the Group B on Wednesday evening. The Reds aim to keep their 100% record intact, and the bookies see them as favourites to win the match. Mohamed Salah, who has established himself as one of the main contenders for the Golden Ball award, will be the man to watch in the home team. Keita should be fit for the match despite limping off with injury in a 2-2 draw with Brighton, while fellow midfielder Elliott, Milner, and Fabinho remain in the recovery room.
Los Rojiblancos, on the other hand, aim to get their revenge on Liverpool for a 3-2 loss at their Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, but given the Reds’ form in October, we predict that Diego Simeone’s troops are going to return to Madrid empty-handed. The likes of Kondogbia, Lemar, and Llorente should miss out with injuries, while Antoine Griezmann is banned.
Highlighted Player (Mohamed Salah):
Mohamed Salah is considered one of the best African players. Salah began his senior career at El Mokawloon, scoring 11 goals in 41 league appearances for the club and in 2012 he moved to Europe, signing a four-year deal with Swiss side Basel.
The pacey winger, who is capable of playing as a striker as well was producing outstanding displays for the RotBlau from 2012 to 2014 and, as a result, Chelsea chiefs decided to sign him on 26 January, 2015 for a fee of £11 million. Mohamed Salah, though, failed to impress in the Premier league and one year later he was sent on loan to Fiorentina.
After making 16 league appearances for the Viola in the Serie A, the left-footed winger signed a loan deal with Roma on 6 August, 2015. The Romans made the contract permanent on 3 August, 2016. Speaking of his international career, Salah made his Egypt debut on 3 September, 2011 in a 2-1 loss to Sierra Leone. It has to be noted that he was named Roma’s player of the season (2015/2016).
Highlighted Team (Atletico Madrid):
Atletico Madrid are a Spanish team that plays in Primera Division (La Liga). Los Rojiblancos or los Colchoneros play their home matches at Estadio Vicente Calderon, which holds up to 54,960 spectators. Atletico Madrid have won 10 La Liga titles, but they have yet to lift the European Cup (Champions League) trophy.
Los Rojiblancos have won 10 Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) trophies and it has to be noted that they defeated their bitter local rivals Real Madrid in the 2012/2013 Spanish Cup final. The rivalry between the two capital clubs is pretty big and El Madrileno is regarded as one of the most exciting derbies in the world football.
Atletico Madrid played two Champions League finals under Diego Simeone, but they failed to beat Real Madrid in the title games (2013/2014 and 2015/2016). However, the Argentine tactician helped Atletico Madrid win the La Liga trophy in 2014 and, no doubt, he is one of the most successful coaches in the history of the capital club.