Diego Costa should be back for Anfield Atletico Madrid The forward is working on his recovery

Atletico Madrid have been forced to end 2019 without their main centre-forward, with Diego Costa out after surgery on a slipped disc.

Yet the former Chelsea goalscorer is aiming to return in time for Los Colchoneros' Champions League trip to Liverpool.

Having been drawn against the defending European champions, Diego Simeone faces a harder task than you would imagine he'd have liked in the first knockout round, but having Costa back will be a huge boost, even if his form in 2019/20 had been underwhelming.

In wider terms, Atleti bring to an end their calendar year with a potentially tricky away trip to face Real Betis and the visitors will be without a number of other senior players.

Stefan Savic and Sime Vrsaljko have both completed their rehabilitation programs and returned to training with the rest of the squad this week, although they haven't yet been declared as match fit.

Both Vitolo and Koke will miss the trip to Seville due to muscular ailments, but it's likely that all four of the aforementioned names will be ready to return after the winter break when the Supercopa de Espana is held in Saudi Arabia.

Costa's case is more complex, mainly due to the nature and location of the injury, but his goal is the Champions League clash with Liverpool.