Credit: Mike Blake-Reuters via Imagn Images

Julian Alvarez Injury Update: Star Ruled Out of Champions League Squad for Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Clash

Credit: Mike Blake-Reuters via Imagn Images

Atletico Madrid’s preparations for their Champions League opener against Liverpool have taken a hit. Their star forward Julian Alvarez has been ruled out of the travelling squad. The Argentine striker suffered a knee injury last weekend during their La Liga win against Villarreal.

He has failed to recover in time for the clash at Anfield. Alvarez’s absence is a significant setback for Diego Simeone’s side. The forward had emerged as one of their most influential players since arriving from Manchester City in 2024. He was named Atletico’Player of the Season last term.

Our squad list for our match against Liverpool ✈️ pic.twitter.com/7vlzm1q4nb
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) September 16, 2025

Atletico Madrid Squad Concerns

Simeone has named a 22-man squad for the trip to Merseyside. However, Alvarez is not the only notable absentee. Midfielder Johnny Cardoso, who joined from Real Betis in the summer, will also miss out. Cardoso sustained an ankle sprain in training.

In addition, Jose Maria Gimenez, Thiago Almada, and Alex Baena were left out. This has left Atletico short of several regular starters. Despite these setbacks, there are some positives for the Rojiblancos. David Hancko, Robin Le Normand, and Nico Gonzalez have all travelled despite recent knocks.

Also Read: Jude Bellingham Makes Massive Return to Real Madrid Squad, Sparks UEFA Champions League Hopes

Meanwhile Alexander Sorloth is expected to partner Antoine Griezmann up front. Sorloth was Atletico’s second-highest scorer last season with 24 goals and could be tasked with filling Alvarez’s void. How they adapt to his absence could be decisive in shaping up the beginning of their Champions League campaign.

Difficult Start for Atleti Without Julian Alvarez

The Spanish side have endured a slow start domestically. They’ve collected just one win from their opening four league matches. This has left them positioned in 11th position in the La Liga table. Their trip to Anfield comes at a demanding stage of the season.

Also Read: Luka Modric’s First Serie A Goal Secures Narrow AC Milan Win Over Bologna

They have another league fixture against Mallorca scheduled just four days later. Atletico will be keen to show their trademark resilience on Merseyside. Especially against a Liverpool side that lifted the Premier League title last season. Their history at Anfield is mixed, famously eliminating Liverpool in 2020.

But they lost both group-stage matches to the Reds in the 2021-22 season. Without Alvarez, Simeone faces one of his toughest early-season challenges. He finished as top scorer with 29 goals across all competitions. His attacking output also extended into Europe, where he scored seven goals in just ten Champions League appearances last season.

Atletico Madrid

Champions League

Julian Alvarez

Liverpool

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid

Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.