UEFA Champions League,
League stage – 1
Liverpool
LIV
9/09/2026
20:00
Atlético de Madrid
automatic teller machine
-
place
- Anfield
-
referee
- D. Too much
Previous Liverpool-Atlético de Madrid
Liverpool i Atlético de Madrid start the 2026-27 academic year Champions League campaigns with a heavyweight League Stage clash at Anfield on Wednesday night.
The two sides met on the opening matchday of last season’s competition, with Liverpool leading a five-goal thriller 3-2 after Virgil van Dijk scored a 92nd-minute winner.
The Reds were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 in April, losing 4-0 on aggregate, but have scored in each of their last nine competitive games since then, finding the net at least twice in six of those games.
Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, suffered their first defeat of the new La Liga season on Saturday when they went down 3-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao.
Diego Simeone’s side had picked up seven points from their opening three league games, but a poor second-half display at San Mames saw the Atletico boss describe the result as a “real wake-up call”.
Simeone has already taken the Spanish side to three Champions League finals, all of which ended in defeat, while Atlético reached the semi-finals last season.
They will be looking to improve their record against English opposition in the League Stage, having drawn four and lost six of their previous 10 games against Premier League clubs.
UEFA Champions League table
League phase
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position 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24: Play Offs
News of the Liverpool-Atlético de Madrid team
Liverpool will be without Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo in Europe after both players were left out of the club’s Champions League squad.
Hugo Ekitike is also sidelined with an Achilles problem, while Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni remain unavailable with knee injuries. Joe Gomez is a doubt due to a muscle problem.
Bradley Barcola is another player in contention for his first start since joining Liverpool. The winger, a two-time Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain, could slot in at right-back, potentially leaving Victor Munoz on the bench.
Atletico are expected to be without Alexander Sorloth due to a thigh injury.
Arnau Ortiz is suspended, having been sent off while playing for Slask Wroclaw in a Conference League qualifier in August 2024.
Julian Alvarez could return to the starting XI after coming off the bench against Athletic Bilbao, while new signing Jonathan David is also set to lead the attack.
Cristian Romero hopes to make his debut at centre-back, while Koke could come into midfield in place of Morten Hjulmand or Pablo Barrios.
Expected lineups for Liverpool-Atlético de Madrid
Liverpool: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Barcola, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
Atlético Madrid: Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Romero, Grimaldo; Koke, Hjulmand; Simeone, Baena, Lookman; david
ℹ️ The official lineups are not yet available. They are usually announced 20-40 minutes before kick-off, depending on the competition.
Liverpool-Atlético Madrid recent form and statistics
- Liverpool have scored in each of their last nine competitive games.
- The Reds have scored at least two goals in six of those nine games.
- Liverpool finished first in the Champions League stage in 2024-25 and third last season.
- Liverpool have won their last six matches in the League Phase with Spanish opposition.
- Atlético have scored in 22 of their last 24 Champions League group stage or League stage matches.
- Atlético have failed to score just once in their last five visits to Anfield.
Where to watch Liverpool-Atlético de Madrid: TV and online streaming
Liverpool-Atlético de Madrid will be available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports, and fans will also be able to follow the game on HBO Max.
The game takes place at Anfield on Wednesday night, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST.
Prediction Liverpool-Atlético de Madrid
Both teams have shown some defensive issues in the opening weeks of the season, so another entertaining meeting between these clubs could take place at Anfield.
Liverpool should have plenty of attacking options available, especially with Barcola pushing for his first start, while Atletico have enough quality to cause problems of their own.
Liverpool
2-1
Atlético de Madrid
