MAKE MY DAY

IF THERE is one thing Liverpool manager Arne Slot wants on his 47th birthday on Wednesday, it’s victory over Diego Simeone and his Atletico Madrid span at Anfield. 

Slot will have to put the birthday drinks on ice until after Wednesday's 9pm Champions League kickoff against a team he is yet to beat. 

In both his previous attempts – as boss of Eredivisie side Feyenoord – Slot was on the losing side, going down 3-1 and 3-2 in the 2023-24 Champions League. 

Fellow Dutchman and Reds captain Virgil van Dijk would like nothing more than to give his baas a win on his big day. 

Added to this, Van Dijk has his eie appeltjie to skil with Atletico, having lost to them the last time he faced them in the Champions League at Anfield. 

That was in 2020 when the Spaniards KO’d Liverpool in the Round of 16, with Van Dijk saying: “The last time [I played them] we lost. It was a painful one, we got knocked out. 

“Their team works so hard and they’ve got a world-class manager. I have a lot of respect for them... They are a very difficult team to beat. They will never give up.” 

While Atleti travelled to the UK without former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez, who was ruled out of the clash, the Reds look set to unveil new signing Alexander Isak. 

Van Dijk can’t wait to see his new teammate in action. His message to Isak ahead the match is to “work hard and to enjoy being the No.9 for Liverpool”.

Wednesday's other UCL fixtures:

Olympiacos v Pafos, Slavia Praha v Bodo/Glimt (both 6.45pm), PSG v Atalanta, Ajax v Inter (both 9pm)