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Atletico Madrid will be sweating on Julian Alvarez’s fitness ahead of Liverpool.(Image: Oscar J. Barroso\/Europa Press via Getty Images)<\/p>\nLiverpool will kick-off this season’s Champions League charge against Spanish opposition on Wednesday night at Anfield – with an injury concern developing for Atletico Madrid.Atletico Madrid will be sweating on Julian Alvarez’s fitness ahead of Liverpool.(Image: Oscar J. Barroso\/Europa Press via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Atletico Madrid have suffered an injury scare just days before they take on Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League. Forward Julian Alvarez was substituted ‘as a precaution’ during the half-time break of their La Liga fixture on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Ex-Manchester City star Alvarez, who has been rumoured to be of past transfer interest to Liverpool<\/a>, had provided an assist for Pablo Barrios to put Atletico ahead in the ninth minute of their match against Villarreal at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. He had also been yellow-carded before the break, after which he did not emerge from the tunnel.<\/p>\n According to Mundo Deportivo<\/a>, the club put this down to ‘a precaution’ with the knowledge of there being a huge Champions League<\/a> opener to come against Liverpool<\/a> at Anfield<\/a> on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Marc Guehi directly addresses supporters after failed Liverpool move – ‘I wanted to’<\/a>READ MORE: Former Liverpool striker sent off in nightmare debut for new club<\/a><\/p>\n Alvarez had featured in Argentina’s two fixtures over the international break, but returned without injury.<\/p>\n It’s not specified what issue Atletico are being careful of, but his absence would be a huge loss for Diego Simeone, should it turn out to be something more significant.<\/p>\n The 25-year-old has made 60 appearances since his \u00a381m transfer from Man City in summer 2024.<\/p>\n He has scored 30 goals and his assist on Saturday was his eighth since that move, totalling more goal contributions than any other Atletico player in that time.<\/p>\n The Spanish side have also been without central defender Jose Maria Gimenez for the entirety of the season so far, while midfielders Alex Baena and Thiago Almada were absent for the Villarreal match, too.<\/p>\n The only consolation for them to take was that the La Liga match ended with their first win of the 2025\/26 season.<\/p>\n As for Liverpool, meanwhile, they will be looking to avoid any new fitness concerns themselves resulting from their Premier League<\/a> clash with Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n The Reds have been without right-back Jeremie Frimpong<\/a> owing a hamstring injury since the opening match of the campaign last month.<\/p>\n