Liverpool boss Arne Slot set to reunite with Atletico Madrid icon after angry row

Arne Slot is poised to come face-to-face once again with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, who previously shoved the Liverpool manager during a heated confrontation. The Reds are gearing up to welcome Atletico Madrid on Wednesday to kick-off their Champions League journey.

Slot will be eager to build on last season's European adventure, having crashed out at the round of 16 stage to eventual winners PSG on penalties despite finishing top of the revamped group phase. The Reds will be want to make another impressive start in the Champions League this time around, with Slot already well-acquainted with Atletico boss Simeone.

The duo first crossed paths during a pre-season clash between Atletico and Feyenoord, shortly after Slot took charge at the Dutch outfit in 2021. Following Feyenoord's dramatic 2-1 triumph in stoppage time, an irate Simeone pushed Slot, forcing players and backroom staff to intervene, as he wrongly believed the future Liverpool manager was taunting him.

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"At that moment, at the end of the match, I turned to Simeone to tell him how passionate he was even in a friendly match," he explained ahead of Feyenoord taking on the same rivals in the Champions League two years ago, as reported by talkSPORT.

"Then, he misinterpreted the smile I had at that moment and pushed me. This says a lot about him, how easily he gets irritated and frustrated. It doesn't matter who he is in front of, he is like that, I don't think he has anything against me."

However, Simeone subsequently took issue with Slot's comments. "Slot had the guts to tell me that I was a frustrated character and that I get wound up over all sorts of things," he said. "I would never say stuff like that about a fellow manager."

While a late strike from Feyenoord's Naoufal Bannis had decided their pre-season encounter, Slot's team enjoyed no such luck in their later meetings with Atletico, suffering defeats in both Champions League meetings during the 2023/24 season. Meanwhile, Liverpool last faced the Spanish outfit during the 2021/22 group stage, securing a 3-2 away triumph and a 2-0 success at Anfield.

Simeone had previously orchestrated triumphs over Liverpool in 2020, claiming both legs to eliminate Jurgen Klopp's team at the last 16 stage. Nevertheless, given his club's growing injury concerns, he faces a tough task to deliver another statement victory.

Atletico have been without centre-half Jose Maria Gimenez so far this campaign. Liverpool Echo also reports that Alex Baena is scheduled to have surgery for acute appendicitis and Argentina midfielder Thiago Almada sustained an injury while on international duty.

When addressing Almada's setback, Simeone said: "Footballers are athletes; these situations can happen in any national team. He's an important player, who adds to Baena's situation, but we have to live with what happens, and that's why we need a strong squad."

Atletico have been hit with a fresh injury scare, as Julian Alvarez was taken off at half-time during their victory over Villarreal. David Hancko and Robin Le Normand also left the pitch due to suspected injuries.

Liverpool are heading into their first Champions League match on a high, following four consecutive Premier League victories. Meanwhile, it's been a rocky start for Atletico, with Simeone's squad suffering a loss to Espanyol and drawing matches with Elche and Alaves before securing a 2-0 win against Villarreal on Saturday.

Before the club's victory at the weekend, Simeone admitted he understood the fans' anxiety about his team. "I don't expect anything; when you expect in life, you despair," he said. "We need to work so that people identify with the team.

"As for the affection the fans have shown me, I've been grateful since I arrived in '94, and I'm the one who has to keep giving the people what they expect from our team."

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