Partey, Koke and Saul are non-negotiable for Diego Simeone

Diego Simeone will continue to view Saul Niguez, Koke, and Thomas Partey as indispensable members of his Atletico Madrid side when football returns this month.

The trio were essential before the break and that won't change, with the three expected to feature in midfield at San Mames in the first game back.

Simeone knows what they bring to the table and trusts them completely to do a job defensively as well as in attack.

Not even Marcos Llorente's Anfield heroics are enough to displace any of the three from the XI and only an injury, as has been the case with Koke this term, could see one of them drop out of the team.

Simeone tried an XI on Monday that was as follows: Jan Oblak; Kieran Trippier, Stefan Savic, Jose Gimenez, Renan Lodi; Marcos Llorente, Thomas, Koke, Saul; Thomas Lemar, Diego Costa.