Julian Alvarez ruled out of Champions League clash with Liverpool

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :September 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM

Modified at :September 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

Atletico will travel to Anfield for their first UCL match of the season.

Atletico Madrid are set to be without their main goalscorer, Julian Alvarez, when they face Liverpool in their opening Champions League 2025-26 season game on Wednesday.

The club confirmed that the Argentine forward has picked up a knee injury in the game against Villarreal over the weekend and was left out of the team’s squad ahead of their clash against the Reds.

This is a major concern for the club, as Alvarez, who joined the club last summer, has been their main attacking outlet. He scored seven goals in 10 Champions League matches last season before they were eliminated by Real Madrid in the round of 16.

Atletico set to be without Alvarez against Liverpool

His absence will be a major void in the centre-forward for Atletico, who have started the new season on a poor note. They languish 11th in the LaLiga table and now face a stern test in the Champions League.

However, despite the club’s sluggish performance this season, Alvarez has managed to open his account in the new campaign. The striker has a goal and an assist in four league outings.

Who will take Alvarez’s place in the attack?

Antoine Griezmann Atletico Madrid — Antoine Griezmann can fill in for the former Manchester City striker in the attack of Atletico. (Photo via Getty Images)

Diego Simeone is now left with a few options for his No.9 position and will hope to find an ideal alternative ahead of the game. Given Liverpool’s stubborn defence, which has conceded zero goals in the last two matches, it will certainly be a tough ask for Atletico’s attack.

It will be an entertaining clash, as both sides have delivered elite performances whenever facing each other. However, the Reds appear strong on paper going into this match, while Simeone’s side possesses enough quality. Nevertheless, Alvarez’s absence will certainly affect the Spanish club’s goal-scoring quality when they visit Anfield.

However, Simeone will have to answer their striker conundrum with either Alexander Sorloth or Antoine Griezmann. Both can fill in for Alvarez in their Champions League game.

How long will Alvarez be out?

There is no confirmation on how long he will be out.

Who will replace Alvarez in the No.9 position?

Griezmann or Sorloth could replace him.

When will Atletico face Liverpool?

They will face them on Wednesday at 8:00 pm BST.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.