4 Champions League debuts possible for Liverpool on Arne Slot's birthday

Liverpool could see four players make the first Champions League appearance of their careers as the Reds host Atletico Madrid on Arne Slot‘s birthday.

The Champions League returns as Liverpool host Atletico Madrid after continuing their 100 percent start in the Premier League.

The fixture falls on Slot’s 47th birthday, and he could give the gift of a maiden Champions League outing to four of his players.

Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Giovanni Leoni and Rio Ngumoha have yet to play in the competition in their careers but each are registered members of his 22-man squad.

Half a century in Europe

This is Liverpool’s 50th season of European football and their 29th in the European Cup/Champions League.

The Reds have won three of the last four opening European fixtures that they have played.

In the last two seasons, they have started a European campaign with 3-1 victories, both away from home, to LASK in 2023/24 and AC Milan last year. They trailed to an early goal in both games.

And if you need any further confidence, Liverpool have won their last 14 home European group stage/league phase matches, scoring two or more goals in the last 13 and keeping nine clean sheets in the last 12.

Liverpool’s record against Spanish sides

This is the 10th time in the last 11 European campaigns that Liverpool have faced Spanish opposition and the sixth Champions League season in a row that they have met a team from Madrid.

This will be their 56th match against Spanish opposition. It is the highest number of games that they have played against a single nation in European competition, the Reds have won 22.

Against clubs from Spain at Anfield, the Reds have won 10, and drawn eight with seven losses.

Simeone’s 50-50 record vs. Liverpool

Diego Simeone has been in charge since December 2011 and has managed them to two wins and two losses over the Reds. He is closing in on 750 games as coach.

Atletico have played two games on the road this season, losing 2-1 at Espanyol before drawing 1-1 at Alaves, both in La Liga.

They won their first game of the season last Saturday, defeating Villarreal 2-0 at home with goals from Pablo Barrios and Nicolas Gonzalez.

This seasons’s scorers so far

Liverpool: Ekitike 3, Salah 2, Chiesa 1, Frimpong 1, Gakpo 1, Gravenberch 1, Ngumoha 1, Szoboszlai 1

Atletico: Alvarez 1, Barrios 1, Gonzalez 1, Simeone 1, Sorloth 1

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