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Anfield, Liverpool
Wednesday 9 September 2026, 20:00 BST
Anfield plays host to a familiar European opponent on Wednesday evening as Liverpool welcome Atletico Madrid for the opening fixture of the Champions League 2026/27 league phase, with kick-off at 20:00 BST.
Andoni Iraola takes charge of his first European night at Liverpool after replacing Arne Slot in the summer, while Diego Simeone brings an Atletico side still nursing the effects of a 3-0 defeat at Athletic Club four days earlier. For those exploring their options ahead of the match, our round-up of new bookmakers covers the latest licensed additions to the market.
Form guide and match preview – Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid
Liverpool head into their European campaign unbeaten in five matches, having secured a first Premier League win of the season at Ipswich Town on Friday, where Alexander Isak scored twice inside the opening nine minutes to seal a 2-0 victory.
Either side of that result, Iraola's team drew 2-2 with both Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, results that speak to a side still calibrating under new management but one that has shown no shortage of attacking intent.
The defensive numbers are more encouraging, with Liverpool keeping three clean sheets in their last five outings, including two pre-season fixtures against Como that helped the new coaching staff build structure at the back.
Five points from three Premier League matches leaves Liverpool in sixth, a return that the manager will want to improve upon but one that also reflects the scale of the transition he is overseeing, with Bradley Barcola, Ronald Araujo and Victor Munoz all arriving in the summer window.
Barcola made his debut off the bench at Portman Road and immediately caught the eye, recording a top speed of 35.9 km/h in just 26 minutes of action, the fastest sprint registered in the Premier League this season.
Cody Gakpo has been the most consistent performer in the early weeks, contributing three assists and earning the highest FotMob rating in the squad at 8.29, while Florian Wirtz continues to grow into the creative hub role after completing his first full season at Anfield.
Atletico Madrid arrive in England on the back of a bruising 3-0 loss at San Mames, a result that ended a four-match unbeaten run and raised questions about the solidity of Simeone's rearguard.
Before that setback, the picture had been far rosier: a 2-0 home win over Malaga, a 2-2 draw with Villarreal and a convincing 3-1 triumph at Sevilla gave Atletico seven points from their opening four LaLiga fixtures.
The difficulty for Simeone is the volume of goals conceded, seven in five matches across all competitions, a rate of 1.4 per game that sits uncomfortably alongside his reputation as one of European football's foremost defensive coaches.
Alex Baena has emerged as the leading attacking threat with three goals and one assist in four LaLiga appearances, while Pablo Barrios anchors the midfield and has earned the joint-highest FotMob rating in the squad alongside Baena at 7.54.
The timing of this fixture is awkward for Atletico, who have had one fewer day of recovery than Liverpool and must travel to a ground where they have lost on each of their last two visits in the Champions League.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid – team news and line-ups
Liverpool
Iraola is without five players for the European opener, with Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni all missing from the defensive pool and Federico Chiesa and Hugo Ekitike unavailable in attacking areas.
The absences at the back mean Ronald Araujo, on loan from Barcelona this season, and Milos Kerkez at left-back are expected to start, alongside captain Virgil van Dijk and the young centre-half Jacquet.
Barcola could earn a first start in a Liverpool shirt after his electric cameo at Ipswich, taking the left-wing berth ahead of the senior options, while Isak leads the line off the back of three goals in three Premier League matches. Readers looking for a comprehensive breakdown of football markets can check our Ladbrokes sportsbook review.
Atletico Madrid
Simeone is without Alexander Sorloth and Obed Vargas through injury, while Arnau Ortiz serves a suspension, leaving the squad short of depth in midfield and up front.
Neither Jonathan David, signed from Juventus this summer, nor Julian Alvarez appear in the predicted starting line-up, with Simeone expected to field Kang-In Lee and Baena as the forward pairing in a 4-4-2 shape.
Alejandro Grimaldo at left-back provides an additional attacking outlet, and David Hancko partners Oscar Pubill in the centre of defence, with Marcos Llorente holding the right-back position. For the latest offers available from licensed operators, see the Ladbrokes sign up offer.
Predicted line-ups – Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Araujo, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Gakpo, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak.
Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Grimaldo; G. Simeone, Hjulmand, Barrios, Lookman; Lee, Baena.
Head-to-head record – Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid
Anfield – Liverpool 3-2 Atletico Madrid
The full Champions League record between these sides reads 3-2-2 in Liverpool's favour from seven meetings, with an aggregate of 12 goals scored to 10 conceded.
Within the last five years, Liverpool have won all three encounters: a 3-2 victory at Anfield in September 2025, a 2-0 home win and a 3-2 away triumph in the 2021/22 group stage.
Atletico's two wins both came in the 2019/20 round-of-16 tie, including a dramatic extra-time victory at Anfield, although that result belongs to a different era for both squads and carries limited predictive weight for the current fixture.
The recurring theme across recent meetings at Anfield is goals at both ends, with the last three home fixtures between these clubs producing a combined 12 goals, an average of four per match. Those exploring their options can browse the best betting sign up offers from licensed operators.
Predictions and betting tips – Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid
- Liverpool have won all three of their most recent Champions League meetings with Atletico Madrid
- Isak has three goals from his opening three Premier League matches, including a brace in nine minutes at Ipswich
- Atletico arrive at Anfield four days after a 3-0 defeat at Athletic Club with seven goals conceded in five recent matches
- Baena leads Atletico with three LaLiga goals and retains the individual quality to score even in defeats
- The last three Liverpool-Atletico matches at Anfield have produced 12 goals combined
Adam is a freelance sports journalist with a decade of experience in the industry. Football is his passion, although he also follows darts and many other sports.
Adam supports Arsenal and local club Wealdstone, made famous by the Wealdstone Raider, who he has interviewed. Adam also follows the women's teams and the England national side.