Julian Alvarez has returned to contention for Atletico Madrid over recent weeks following a failed summer move to Arsenal and Diego Simeone has now offered his take on the striker’s situation

Diego Simeone has admitted that Julian Alvarez's situation is still disrupting Atletico Madrid ahead of their trip to Anfield. The Spanish side take on Liverpool in their Champions League opener on Wednesday evening.

The game comes after a tumultuous summer where star forward Alvarez was linked with a move away from the club. Barcelona and Arsenal were interested, with the former lodging a formal bid but Atleti elected not to do business with their Spanish rivals.

Since then, Alvarez, 26, has made two substitute appearances, having also been booed by the club’s fans, while he missed training due to illness. Speaking ahead of the trip to Merseyside, boss Simeone has confirmed that he is not ready to start, while both fellow strikers Jonathan David and Alexander Sorloth are doubts.

"Jonathan arrived very recently and couldn't play the other day [against Athletic Club] due to a problem," said Simeone. "Julian is still developing; I don't see him starting yet, but he'll help us as the game progresses.

"[Sorloth's] recovering. He has this injury that's keeping him from playing. We need him; he's important, whether it's for 90, 60 or 20 minutes. He gives us things we don't have in the team right now. Hopefully, he'll be back soon."

Simeone added: "It's very important for the club that the final is at the Metropolitano. For us, we have to work incredibly hard to be able to aspire to that privileged position.

"We're in a growth phase, settling in; there are many new players, the situation with Julian, David's arrival at the end of the transfer window, the national team players who arrived late and nobody cares about them anymore. Little by little, we'll find our rhythm."

Simeone’s comments come just days after Alvarez’s Argentina teammate Lautaro Martinez gave his take on Alvarez’s efforts to leave the club. The Inter Milan captain said: "I did speak to him and sent him a message.

"I showed him my full support because, apart from the fact that we're teammates, that we play in the same position and are competing for a place in the national team, he's a friend.

"I'm sure the situation he's been through and is still going through isn't easy, but well, the decision lies with his club and his club's president.

"I wish him all the best," Martínez added. "I hope he gets well soon and continues to show what he's shown so far, because he's a brilliant player -- one of the best in the world, too."