Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
We have a team that have tripped Liverpool up at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League in the recent past as Atletico Madrid head to Merseyside this midweek.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Liverpool preview: Fighting on all fronts
Like last season, the intent for Liverpool will be to try and compete on all fronts, and that was shown by the mega spending over the summer, with Alexander Isak, their new £125 million striker, potentially making a debut in this one.
They have won all four of their Premier League games, with all four victories requiring late winners. At the weekend, in a hard-fought clash at Turf Moor, Liverpool eventually snuck three points, courtesy of a Mohamed Salah second-half stoppage-time penalty.
Atletico Madrid preview: Much-needed respite
It has been another fairly heavy summer of spending for Atletico Madrid, with the pressure on Diego Simeone to evolve their style growing, and it has been followed by a poor start to the campaign for Los Rojiblancos, perhaps ended at the weekend.
They had taken just two points from matches against Espanyol, Elche and Deportivo Alaves, before they then managed to defeat a strong Villarreal side by two goals to nil at the Metropolitano in La Liga at the weekend.
Liverpool team news: Jones out, Isak maybe in
Arne Slot has suggested that Isak could be involved against Atletico this week, having been left out of the squad that edged past Burnley. England international Curtis Jones remains the only confirmed absentee.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Unavailable: Jones (Injured)
Questionable: Mac Allister (Fitness)
Atletico Madrid team news: Couple of blows
Two of Atleti’s new signings have recently suffered fresh injuries with Thiago Almada now sidelined, and the impressive David Hancko is a doubt. Alex Baena also joined in the summer and remains unavailable alongside Jose Maria Gimenez.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Ruggeri; Simeone, Barrios, Koke, Gonzalez; Griezmann, Alvarez
Unavailable: Gimenez (Injured), Baena (Injured), Almada (Injured)
Questionable: Hancko (Injured)
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid prediction
Liverpool have an abundance of talent and quality, but there is a feeling that they have yet to find the balance and fluency that they had for much of last season. Despite that, they are still finding a way to win. They face an Atletico side that head to Anfield looking to build on the weekend but, knowing Simeone, rather than using those attacking combinations once again, sitting back and waiting to be edged out would seem the likelier outcome.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Tip: Liverpool to win & under 3.5 goals
