Liverpool's varied pre-season form continued with a 2-1 defeat at home to Atletico Madrid. The Spanish outfit were well worth their victory, being two goals to the good by half time.

Argentina star Sergio Aguero dived to head home a cross from Simao, and then produced the back-heel that set-up former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan for a second.

Lucas Leiva got the Reds consolation with nine minutes remaining, but despite a late flurry Madrid held out.

A miserable day for Reds boss Rafa Benitez was compounded with the early injury to Jamie Carragher who limped out of the game with an ankle injury.

"He's okay," Benitez told the club's official website.

"He twisted his ankle and it was just a precaution to bring him off because we have had problems with the other centre backs and we wanted to protect him."

Asked if it was a concern with Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger already out injured, Benitez added: "We will have to wait now, the three players are injured, but improving so I think they will be fit for the next game."