Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid: Champions League – preview, teams, prediction

What the report says

Liverpool and Atletico Madrid open their Champions League league-phase campaigns at Anfield in Liverpool, United Kingdom, on Wednesday, September 9, at 8pm local time, according to Al Jazeera’s match preview. The report says Liverpool come into the game after manager Andoni Iraola recorded his first win in charge over the weekend, a 2-0 league victory at Ipswich that featured a quick double from Alexander Isak. Atletico, meanwhile, arrive after their unbeaten start to the season ended with a 3-0 loss away to Athletic Bilbao.

The preview frames the match as an early test for both clubs. For Liverpool, it is a chance to build momentum after two opening draws and a first victory under Iraola, while Atletico will be trying to recover from a disappointing second-half collapse in La Liga. Al Jazeera notes that Liverpool’s new signing Bradley Barcola could be in line for his first start, while Atletico are expected to be without striker Alexander Sorloth because of injury.

The article also points to recent history between the sides. Their most recent meeting, in September 2025, ended in a 3-2 Liverpool win, and the two clubs have met nine times overall, with Liverpool holding a slight edge in the head-to-head record. Al Jazeera’s cited Opta prediction gives Liverpool the stronger chance of winning, though the piece presents the game as a closely watched early-season European test.