Liverpool v Atletico Madrid overview

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE:
LIVERPOOL v ATLETICO MADRID OVERVIEW

Liverpool welcome Atletico Madrid to Anfield, with both sides in prime position to progress from Group D.

Wins in their opening two games had them level at the top of the group before Liverpool visited the Spanish capital a fortnight ago, and Simao's late equaliser for Atletico at the Vicente Calderon ensured that the situation remained that way heading into the reverse fixture.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres missed the chance to make an emotional return to his old stomping ground due to a hamstring injury, but the Spanish international has a 70% chance of facing his former side tonight, according to his manager Rafael Benitez.

On the other side of the coin, Luis Garcia and Florent Sinama Pongolle will make their first return to Merseyside since leaving the Reds. Both are assured a warm welcome, with Garcia in particular a former favourite with the Kop after hitting some vital goals on the Reds' memorable run to Champions League success in 2005.

Pongolle also made a valuable contribution on the road to Istanbul, scoring a goal in the crucial 3-1 win over Olympiacos that secured qualification from the group stages.

FORM

Liverpool have had mixed fortunes since they returned from Madrid. Their first game saw them shatter Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten run when Xabi Alonso's deflected goal gave them a vital 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge and put them three points clear of the Blues at the top of the Premier League.

Then last Wednesday they needed a 76th-minute Steven Gerrard penalty to see off Portsmouth 1-0 in Tony Adams' first game in charge of the Fratton Park outfit. Liverpool then looked to be on their way to securing a third consecutive 1-0 win when Dirk Kuyt gave them an early lead against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday, but Harry Redknapp's fairytale start as Spurs manager continued when Jamie Carragher headed into his own net and Roman Pavlyuchenko struck in the dying minutes as the Reds slipped to their first defeat of the season.

Atletico come into the game on the back of a 2-0 over Real Mallorca, with striker Sergio Aguera netting both goals after he had been rested for the previous weekend's clash away to Villarreal. That game with the 'Yellow Submarine' will live long in the memory, with Atletico taking a 2-0 lead, only to fall 4-2 behind before coming back to level the game 4-4. Simao bagged a brace for 'Atleti', with Diego Forlan and Raul Garcia the other players to score for Javier Aguirre's side.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH
The sides will have a better understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses after their previous encounter. But which individual battles could have a major bearing on who will top the table after tonight?

JAMIE CARRAGHER v SERGIO 'KUN' AGUERO

Carragher, along with Steven Gerrard, is the Scouse heartbeat of Rafael Benitez's multi-national team and a rock-solid performer at the centre of the Reds defence. His positioning, strength and bravery can rarely be questioned and he will be desperate to bounce back after scoring an own goal in Saturday's unlucky defeat at Tottenham.

Argentina striker Aguero is arguably the hottest prospect in world football. The 20-year-old signed for Atletico at the age of 17 in 2006, after Benitez had baulked at the £15 million-plus valuation placed on him by Independiente - for whom he made his debut at the age of 15. Injury limited his participation in the first match between the teams last month, but he changed the game after coming off the bench and will provide a lethal edge for the visitors.

STEVEN GERRARD v MANICHE

Javier Mascherano provides the bite and Xabi Alonso adds passing range to the Liverpool midfield - but Gerrard is unquestionably driving attacking force in the Reds' midfield. The 28-year-old boasts boundless energy, visionary passing and a lethal shot.

Portugal midfielder Maniche has suffered something of a fall from grace since starring at Euro 2004 for the hosts. Subsequent spells at Dynamo Moscow and Chelsea fell flat, and he was loaned to Inter Milan by Atletico last season. Since his return, however, he has regained some of his old form and is a threat with his long-range shooting.

ALVARO ARBELOA v SIMAO SABROSA

Benitez appeared to have uncovered a cheap gem when he brought Arbeloa to Anfield from Deportivo La Coruna in a £2.5 million deal in January 2007, and the Spaniard instantly impressed with his attacking intent coupled with defensive solidity. The right-back's form fell away last term but he appears back to his best this season and has made the position his own.

Winger Simao, another star of the Portugal national team, almost moved to Liverpool before the Reds opted for a cut-price Jermaine Pennant instead. While Pennant has floundered, Simao has flourished at the Vicente Calderon and provides pace, skill, accurate crossing and the odd 30-yarder - as the Reds found out to their cost in 2005/06 when his scorching effort helped send them crashing out at the hands of Benfica.

GAFFER TALK

RAFAEL BENITEZ

On Torres' chances of facing his former club: 'Fernando has been working really, really hard and doing good work with the physios.

'He trained yesterday and will train again today and then we will see. I would say he has a 70% chance of featuring in the game.

'Atletico Madrid was his first club and now he is with Liverpool - two big clubs with lots of fans who love him, so this is massive for him.'

On the importance of bouncing back after their first defeat of the season: 'Chelsea have shown that they're a good team and we have to show the same. We have to show the same character now.

'It's football - sometimes you can win, you can lose but after this last game we don't need to be worried about the performance of the team, their character or quality.

'The key is to keep the confidence in the team and keep working as hard as we did against Tottenham and we will be there.'

JAVIER AGUIRRE

On the possibility of facing Torres: 'The truth is that I'd like Fernando Torres to play so that we could face the best Liverpool possible.'

On the fact that he will have to watch from the stands after UEFA imposed a two-match dug-out ban on him: 'The coach has time to work before the matches, at half-time and can make three substitutions. His participation during the 90 minutes is scarce. I'll sit in the stands and Nacho (Ambriz) will be the one who directs the team; he's perfectly capable of doing it.'

On the Anfield factor: 'You measure that before the matches; when the referee gives the opening whistle you forget about everything surrounding you. The people cheer, but they're not the ones who play. I don't think that the atmosphere in the stadium should weigh on the team, it's another Champions League game.'

THE VERDICT

It was a dismal run in November last year that ensured Liverpool had no say in the Premier League title race at the end of the season. A loss tonight would have the doubters out in force again. But last year Liverpool's dip in domestic form coincided with three Champions League wins which were crucial to them staying in the competition and may also have saved Benitez's job.

Victory tonight would all but assure the hosts of a place in the knock-out stages, and would then allow them to focus their attentions on the Premier League for a couple of months.

Atletico, you would imagine, would be relatively content with a draw given Liverpool's record at home in the Champions League in recent years. With their attacking threat, however, it would be no surprise if they were able to match Marseille's feat of 2007 by winning at Anfield.

But Liverpool appear to have found some consistency and tonight may well prove to be a key juncture in their season.

Liverpool to win.

BETTING (best price)
Liverpool win - 8/13
Atletico Madrid win - 6/1
Draw - 11/4