Liverpool begin another Champions League campaign at Anfield with Atletico Madrid providing precisely the sort of examination Andoni Iraola needs at this stage of his rebuild.
There are easier opponents Liverpool could have drawn. There are certainly more accommodating ones. Yet after Friday night’s 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town finally gave Iraola his first win as Liverpool head coach, this feels like an ideal moment to discover exactly where his team stands.
Atletico remain one of European football’s most experienced operators. This will be their 14th consecutive Champions League campaign, and whatever changes Diego Simeone has made stylistically, certain characteristics remain embedded in the club. They are aggressive, organised, streetwise and perfectly comfortable making matches unpleasant.
Liverpool need to embrace that challenge.
Anfield must become Liverpool’s weapon again
What encouraged me most about Liverpool against Ipswich was the beginning. They played quickly, imposed themselves and looked determined to dictate the match.
That approach is essential against Atletico.
Liverpool cannot spend the opening 15 minutes cautiously passing the ball around while Atletico settle into their defensive structure. Anfield will be ready for a Champions League night. Liverpool’s responsibility is to give the crowd something to feed upon.
Start quickly. Win tackles. Attack space. Make Atletico defend facing their own goal.
An early Liverpool goal would completely alter the contest because Simeone’s side would eventually have to take greater risks. Allow Atletico to settle at 0-0 and Liverpool could find themselves dragged into exactly the sort of match the Spaniards enjoy.
There has been a feeling that this Liverpool side can occasionally be too accommodating. Atletico will test that theory. This could become a physical, niggly Champions League game in which challenges, second balls and reactions to refereeing decisions become almost as important as possession. The discussion around this match correctly identified Liverpool’s need for greater grit and suggested Victor Munoz might provide some of it.
That is where Liverpool need to show another side of themselves.
Isak gives Liverpool a genuine focal point
Alexander Isak’s brace at Ipswich could hardly have arrived at a better time.
Liverpool’s record signing now enters the Champions League campaign with confidence flowing. More importantly, there were encouraging signs of Liverpool beginning to understand how to use him.
Against Atletico, he will start again.
There will be opportunities to manage his workload later. This is Liverpool’s most difficult home fixture of the league phase, and winning it immediately changes the complexion of the European campaign. Three points here would provide Iraola with greater freedom to rotate during more manageable fixtures later in the competition. That was also one of the strongest conclusions from the preview discussion, start the strongest side and attack Atletico for the opening hour.
Bradley Barcola creates another fascinating decision. He looked exciting during his cameo at Ipswich, although Iraola has understandably been careful about managing a player who arrived without significant recent match minutes.
Cody Gakpo’s minor muscle issue could accelerate Barcola’s introduction. If Gakpo fails to make it, I would start Barcola alongside Isak and Munoz.
Anfield under the lights would be quite an introduction.
Midfield battle could decide Champions League opener
Atletico will try to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm and turn midfield into a physical contest. Gravenberch provides athleticism and ball carrying ability alongside Szoboszlai, while Wirtz should be given licence to operate higher.
Liverpool spent enormous money acquiring players capable of deciding matches like this. Wirtz was recruited to unlock stubborn opponents. Isak was signed to finish chances. Barcola provides acceleration against defensive structures and Munoz offers relentless running.
This is the night to use them.
Araujo also deserves another opportunity at right back following his impressive performance at Ipswich. Atletico possess enough attacking quality to punish defensive uncertainty, particularly if Julian Alvarez returns to prominence. His situation in Madrid may be complicated, but his ability certainly is not. The preview rightly identified him as Atletico’s biggest individual threat, describing a forward comfortable dropping deep or leading the attack alone.
Liverpool cannot allow his circumstances at Atletico to distract them from what he can do.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson, Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk (C), Kerkez, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Munoz, Barcola, Isak.
Liverpool can make opening night count
There is something appropriate about Iraola beginning his Champions League managerial career against Simeone.
He knows Atletico well and his record against them provides another challenge to overcome. Iraola is winless across his previous four managerial meetings with Simeone, losing three and drawing one.
Anfield changes the equation.
Liverpool have spent heavily, reshaped their attack and entrusted Iraola with beginning another cycle. Friday offered the first meaningful glimpse of what this team could become. Wednesday needs to move that process forward.
Atletico deserve respect. They have the experience, organisation and quality to cause Liverpool serious problems, and their ability to manipulate the tempo makes them dangerous opponents. They will probably regard a point at Anfield as an excellent result.
Liverpool should demand more.
I expect difficult periods and I would be surprised if Atletico failed to score. Yet Liverpool have greater attacking quality, home advantage and, following Ipswich, finally some momentum.
This Champions League campaign should begin with Liverpool imposing themselves rather than waiting to discover what Atletico have planned.
Get Anfield involved. Get Isak involved. Play quickly, compete aggressively and force Simeone’s team backwards.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid.
Whilst I agree that the team can feed the atmosphere, I also think it's the crowd's duty to come in hungry and set the tone. They have become too passive at times, expecting the worst and waiting for inspiration.
A roaring atmosphere demands energy from the team. That's how we help them to start fast and maintain intensity.
It's also how we influence the ref, who is known for his strictness and tendency to make games very stop-start with overuse of the whistle. We got nothing from the ref in the Ipswich game. Athleti will want this game to be bitty. The crowd can help those decisions fall our way.