The Storylines
This is a repeat of last seasons Matchday 1 fixture at Anfield, when Liverpool raced into a two-goal lead inside six minutes before Atletico fought back through a Marcos Llorente brace, only for Virgil van Dijk to head home a stoppage-time winner to seal a 3-2 win. Twelve months on, the two sides meet again on opening night, this time with Andoni Iraola in the Liverpool dugout for his first Champions League match in charge — a competition he never featured in during his time at Rayo Vallecano.
Iraola arrives full of confidence after finally recording his first win as Liverpool boss, a 2-0 victory at Ipswich Town built on an early Alexander Isak brace, following opening draws with Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. Atletico Madrid, by contrast, come into the match on the back of a heavy 3-0 defeat to Athletic Club at the weekend, with reports of unrest surrounding forward Julian Alvarez, who reportedly wants to leave the club after a move to Barcelona failed to materialise over the summer.
Team Snapshot
Liverpool
Liverpool enter their 30th European Cup/Champions League campaign, and this season marks the 50th anniversary of the clubs first European Cup triumph in Rome in 1977. New signing Bradley Barcola made his debut against Ipswich and could be in line for more minutes here, while Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni remain sidelined through injury.
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeones side have endured an inconsistent start to the season, winning at Sevilla before drawing with Villa and then being thrashed 3-0 by Athletic Bilbao. Alexander Sorloth is out injured, and the club moved late in the transfer window to add Jonathan David on loan from Juventus, giving Simeone fresh attacking cover for the trip to Merseyside.
Head-to-Head Watch
Liverpool have won each of their last three Champions League meetings with Atletico Madrid and remain unbeaten against them across all group-stage and league-phase encounters, winning three and drawing two of their last five meetings in that format. Atleticos only two wins over Liverpool in the competition both came in the 2019-20 Round of 16. At Anfield specifically, Liverpool have won 22 of their last 26 home Champions League group or league-phase fixtures.
Players to Watch
| Player | Team | Why he matters |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Isak | Liverpool | Scored twice against Ipswich to deliver Iraolas first win; in form heading into the European opener |
| Bradley Barcola | Liverpool | £123m summer signing making his first appearances for the club |
| Julian Alvarez | Atletico Madrid | Reportedly unsettled after a failed move to Barcelona, but still a key attacking outlet |
| Jonathan David | Atletico Madrid | Fresh loan arrival from Juventus, added late for extra firepower up front |
Follow Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Live
Live score updates, match stats, lineups and full Champions League standings are available on Nowgoal as kick-off approaches at Anfield.
Open Nowgoal Live Scores