Full Breakdown
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid: Champions League League-Phase Opener at Anfield
9/10/2026, 1:25:40 AM
Match overview
Liverpool host Atletico Madrid on September 9, 2026 in Matchday 1 of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase. It is the first European night for Liverpool’s new manager Andoni Iraola. Atletico arrive after a 3-0 La Liga defeat to Athletic Bilbao on September 5, 2026.
Recent form and historical context
- Liverpool came off a 2-0 Premier League win at Ipswich Town.
- Atletico’s unbeaten La Liga start ended with the Bilbao loss.
- In the previous nine European meetings, Liverpool have won four, Atletico three and two have been draws. Liverpool have won three of the last five Champions League openings, including a 3-2 victory at Anfield last season.
- Opta’s model gives Liverpool a 53 % win probability and Atletico 23.5 % (source 7). Betting markets list Liverpool as 1.34 favourites and Atletico at 3.35 (source 24).
Expected line-ups and player availability
Liverpool (4-2-3-1) – Alisson; Ronald Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister; Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola; Alexander Isak.
- Barcola is projected to make his first start; Gakpo is a doubt after missing training (source 37).
- Long-term absentees: Conor Bradley (knee), Giovanni Leoni (ACL), Hugo Ekitike (Achilles), Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo (not in the Champions League squad).
Atletico Madrid (4-4-2) – Jan Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, Cristian Romero, David Hancko; Giuliano Simeone, Pablo Barrios, Morten Hjulmand, Lee Kang-in; Julian Alvarez, Jonathan David.
- Alexander Sorloth is ruled out with a thigh injury; Arnau Ortiz is suspended (source 34).
Managerial perspectives
- Simeone described the Bilbao defeat as “a real wake-up call” and urged his players to respond quickly (source 19).
How to watch
- United States: Paramount Plus (English).
- United Kingdom: TNT Sports on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate; also Sky Q, Sky Glass, NOW, Virgin Media and EE TV (sources 1, 2).
- Canada: DAZN (CA$25/month) (source 2).
- Australia: Stan Sport (source 2).
Conflicting reports and gaps
- Some sources list Ryan Gravenberch in Liverpool’s midfield, others on the bench.
- Atletico’s midfield is reported variously as Giuliano Simeone and Pablo Barrios or Koke and Hjulmand.
- Cody Gakpo’s status is described both as a “doubt” and as “expected to keep his place.”
Verbatim quotes
- “We needed it. Definitely needed this one. Also the way it has been, I think, with a clean sheet,” — Iraola.
- “We were good in the first half, but the game got away from us in those [couple of] minutes,” — Diego Simeone.
What’s next
- Liverpool’s next league match is against Fulham before travelling to LASK for Matchday 2 later this month (source 36).
- Atletico Madrid travel to Real Sociedad and then host Manchester United later this month (source 36).
