Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Trystan Pugh ·
For the second season running, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid face off at Anfield on Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
Liverpool preview: Stuttering start
Andoni Iraola's first taste of Champions League football comes at Anfield with the visit of familiar foes Atletico Madrid, with this a repeat of the corresponding Matchday 1 fixture last season in which the Reds earned a last-gasp 3-2 victory.
The Premier League side haven't exactly made a flying start to their domestic campaign but they remain unbeaten with a 2-0 victory at Ipswich coming after successive 2-2 draws with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
Atletico Madrid preview: Shock loss at the weekend
Atletico Madrid, who reached the Champions League semi-finals last season, begun the campaign reasonably well but are coming off a surprise 3-0 defeat to Athletic Club in La Liga on Saturday.
The ongoing saga regarding whether or not Julian Alvarez stayed or left the club certainly didn't help matters, but with their star striker remaining in Madrid, the focus must now concern matters on the pitch.
Liverpool team news: Barcola decision
The Reds remain without Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitike, while Federico Chiesa is still injured but was not included in Iraola's Champions League squad, along with Wataru Endo.
The Liverpool boss has stated that blockbuster summer signing Bradley Barcola is ready for more minutes, but it remains to be seen whether that is from the start given that he didn't feature in any pre-season games.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Araújo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Munoz, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
Unavailable: Gomez (Injured), Bradley (Injured), Leoni (Injured), Chiesa (Injured / Not in squad), Ekitike (Injured)
Questionable:
Atletico Madrid team news: First start for Alvarez?
Arnau Ortiz is unavailable due to a suspension that has been carried over from 2024, while Alexander Sorloth misses out with a thigh issue.
Wantaway striker Alvarez is yet to start a match this season but did come off the bench on Saturday and this could be the perfect time for him to be reinstated into the starting line-up. Summer signing Jonathan David, yet to feature since his loan move from Juventus, could also feature
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Romero, Grimaldo; Simeone, Barrios, Hjulmand, Lookman; Alvarez, Baena
Unavailable: Ortiz (Suspended), Sorloth (Injured)
Questionable:
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid prediction
While there is undeniable firepower on show in this fixture, both sides have looked vulnerable in defence in the early weeks of the season and so it would be a surprise if this was a low-scoring, cagey affair.
It is almost 12 months to the day since Liverpool beat Atletico 3-2 thanks to an injury-time Virgil van Dijk winner, and you feel this one has all the ingredients of another entertaining contest between two European heavyweights.
Over 2.5 goals is the tip at Anfield.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Tip: Over 2.5 goals
