While Liverpool’s struggles in the Premier League this season might leave them facing an uphill battle to qualify for next year’s Champions League, they are least qualified for this season’s knockout stages after recovering well from an open 4-1 defeat away at Napoli.
Bouncing back to win all five of their remaining group games, the Reds face the prospect of a round-of-16 clash with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, FC Porto or Benfica in Monday’s draw as they look to extend their European exploits and collect more of the financial rewards on offer.
Yet it’s a different story for one of their recent foes in the competition - Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone’s side infamously knocked Jurgen Klopp ’s men out of the tournament in the R16 back in 2020, though Liverpool would get revenge of sorts in 2021/22 as they beat the Spaniards both home and away in the group-stages.
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There will be no rematch between the sides this year though after Atleti failed to progress for only the second time since their return to the continent’s top stage in 2013/14. And Simeone's men don't even have the Europa League to fall back on as an inferior head-to-head points difference with Bayer Leverkusen left them bottom of Group B, with FC Porto and Club Brugge progressing to the Champions League knockout stages and Xabi Alonso's side transferring to Europe's secondary tournament at their expense courtesy of a 2-2 draw in Madrid late last month.
As a result, it could be a busy January at the Metropolitano Stadium with various reports in Spain suggesting Atletico could be forced to conduct a firesale. While Barcelona’s financial woes and struggles with La Liga salary rules are well-known, it would seem Atleti are at risk of being stung too, having not expected to be eliminated from Europe.
Club president Enrique Cerezo reportedly intends to strengthen several positions in the Atletico squad come January, with the club on the lookout for a new centre-back, midfield and a right-back. But having already re-signed Antoine Griezmann permanently from Barcelona after reaching a new agreement with the Catalans, having previously avoided starting the World Cup winner to sidestep triggering the appearance-based €40m obligatory purchase clause included in his loan, Cadena Ser reports that they need to sell at least two high-value players to balance the books and fund reinvestment in the squad.
Joao Felix, Thomas Lemar, Rodrigo de Paul and Yannick Carrasco are all credited as players Atletico would be willing to cash in on, as they have no other way to balance accounts and strengthen their squad without the money from the Champions League, while Mundo Deportivo suggest they are also open to offers for Marcos Llorente.
Should Liverpool wish to strengthen their injury-hit squad themselves in January, they could join a number of clubs potentially looking in Atletico’s direction for a cut-price purchase, with the Reds regularly finding themselves linked with four of the aforementioned five players in recent years.
Previously untouchable at Atletico since his £113m move from Benfica in 2019, Felix's relationship with Simeone has reportedly soured with the 22-year-old not featuring as much as he would like this season. Stuck with a hefty wage bill, they are said to be willing to U-turn on that stance regarding the versatile Portuguese as a result.
Liverpool found themselves linked with Felix during his breakthrough season with Benfica in 2018/19 as he scored 20 goals, and have been loosely linked with him ever since his move to Atletico. Whether the Reds would be in the market for a new forward in the long-term is debatable, despite options currently being light after losing Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz to injury. But still only 22 and capable of playing upfront, on either flank and behind a striker, Felix would tick certain boxes at Anfield.
It’s a different story in midfield, however, for Liverpool despite them boasting 10 senior options this season. Yet from that quota, there is a significant lack of players at their peak age, with Klopp’s options made up of ageing stars, expiring contracts, injury-prone players and promising youngsters.
The Reds plan to revamp their midfield in 2023, with Jude Bellingham reportedly tipped as their first-choice target. Yet they’ll arguably need more than one signing, and would perhaps be wise to move for such a player in January. Considering Lemar, De Paul and Llorente’s apparent availability, one of the trio could prove to be an attractive acquisition.
Liverpool famously tried to sign Lemar from AS Monaco back in the summer of 2017 when it looked like they might lose Philippe Coutinho, only for a deal to not materialise once the Ligue 1 side upped the asking price. Out of contract next summer, the Frenchman is now 26 and capable of playing anywhere in midfield, on either flank and behind the striker.
Meanwhile, the Reds regularly found their name next to De Paul’s in the gossip columns ahead of the Argentina international’s departure from Udinese to Atletico in 2021. Now 28, He is another comfortable playing anywhere in midfield, as well on either flank or upfront, while he has missed just 15 league games in the past five seasons.
As for Llorente, the 27-year-old would reportedly cost £35m and has again regularly been linked with a move to Anfield. Predominantly a deeper midfielder, he can play as a number eight, on the right or behind a striker while he even has limited experience at full-back and centre-back. Kopites will remember him scoring twice at Anfield to knock the Reds out of the Champions League in 2020.
It remains uncertain what Liverpool plan to do in the January transfer market, or if they’d even be interested in any of the aforementioned Atletico stars. But considering their versatility and ages, they’d certainly be able to provide something that Jurgen Klopp’s injury-hit squad is currently lacking.
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