Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool - 5 key battles to watch out for | UEFA Champions League 2021-22

Atletico Madrid will face off against Liverpool in a battle of European heavyweights in the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League at the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday.

The two sides last met in the last 16 of the 2019-20 edition of the competition. There the Rojiblancos pulled off a huge upset by knocking out the then-defending champions 4-2 on aggregate.

While the stakes are not as high this time, both teams are competing for the top spot in Group B to avoid a tough draw for the Round of 16. Liverpool are currently in pole position with six points, having won both their games so far. Atletico are only two points behind the Reds, though.

If the Rojiblancos beat the group leaders, they'll take over top spot in the group. However, this is a different Liverpool team from the one they faced last time. So Atletico will have their task cut out.

Following a massive slump in form last season, Jurgen Klopp's charges are back to their rip-roaring best this campaign. Nevertheless, Atletico love challenges, and have sprung up surprises on big nights like these before.

Ahead of the mouth-watering kick-off, here are the five key player battles to watch out for:

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#5 Fabinho (Liverpool) vs Koke (Atletico Madrid)

If Koke is kept quiet, Liverpool could beat Atletico.

Much of the game could be won in midfield, particularly in this duel. Fabinho will have the arduous task of keeping up with Koke's energy and passing in what's going to be a baptism of fire on the Brazilian's return from injury.

The Spaniard is often the orchestrator in Atletico's side. He creates plenty of attacking opportunities as well as space for advanced players to run into by dropping off when up against low blocks.

Without Koke, the Rojiblancos tend to struggle. His vision and intelligence are a handful for most players to deal with. Fabinho will have to bring up his A-game to the fore when covering Liverpool's back four against Koke.

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#4 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) vs Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid)

Trent Alexander-Arnold cannot afford to leave space behind against Carrasco.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has revolutionised the full-back position with his fearsome attacking skills, and is widely hailed as one of the best full-backs in the game now.

He has brought a new dimension to Liverpool's attack by carrying an immense threat going forward. Alexander-Arnold makes an insane number of assists and links up brilliantly with Mohamed Salah up front.

That quality of his, of course, will be crucial against Atletico's resolute defence. But Alexander-Arnold will also have to be mindful of his defensive duties while going up against Yannick Carrasco.

With Marcos Llorente facing a race against time to be fit, the Belgian is likely to start as Atletico's left winger. He'll be looking to exploit the space left behind by the Liverpool defender and get a few crosses away. Carrasco would also fancy taking his own chances from there.

#3 Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid) vs Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

Kieran Trippier kept Mane quiet last time, and will look to do so again at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Kieran Trippier has taken everyone by surprise by recapturing his best form at Atletico Madrid. It didn't take him long to become an important piece in Diego Simeone's puzzle. He is now hailed as one of the best in his position in La Liga.

Though not a modern-day marauding full-back, Trippier makes up for his lack of attacking intent with his strong defensive nous. However, the Englishman's skills will be put to the test by the peerless Sadio Mane, who has hit the throttle this season.

With six goals in ten games across competitions, the Senegalese ace is on a roll. He has got his swagger back, and with match-winning displays, Mane is showing how valuable he is for Liverpool.

His energetic runs from the flanks and devastating link-up plays with Salah could be hard for Trippier to contend with.

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#2 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) vs Geoffrey Kondogbia (Atletico Madrid)

Mohamed Salah will need some stopping.

With Jose Gimenez recovering from an injury, Geoffrey Kondogbia will have to shoulder the Herculean task of dealing with Mohamed Salah, who's currently in the form of his life.

The Central African Republic defender, signed from Valencia last year, is having a decent 2021-22 campaign with Atletico Madrid. He has brought a lot of composure and dynamism to their defence.

Playing in a back three with Felipe and Miguel Hermoso, his passing has been excellent; he is averaging over three tackles per game. Yet nothing can prepare him for what's coming his way on Tuesday.

Salah has scored in each of his last eight games for Liverpool,l and looks unstoppable at the moment. He has combined electric speed and excellent ball-control to tear apart defences, and has been creating chances a lot as well.

Keeping Salah quiet would be no mean feat, so Kondogbia will have to muster every ounce of his defensive nous when he goes up against the Egyptian.

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#1 Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) vs Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid)

The most important duel of the match?

This one's a real cracker: an unstoppable force against an immovable object. Virgil van Dijk and Luis Suarez, two of the best players in their respective positions, will go head-to-head in an enticing duel on Tuesday.

Of course, they have met each other before, especially during Liverpool's semi-final clash with Barcelona over two years ago. While the Uruguayan scored in the first leg, Van Dijk eventually had the last laugh.

Now at Atletico, the former Reds' No.9 will fancy his chances against his old club again. Suarez has already scored against another of his former side in La Liga a few weeks ago.

Van Dijk, who has made a bright return to the side after missing large swathes of last season through injury, will have his hands full against the Atletico Madrid marksman.