Liverpool v Atletico Madrid: Line-ups, stats and preview
The lowdown on Liverpool v Atletico Madrid
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Liverpool v Atletico Madrid match preview
Liverpool manager Arne Slot says Atletico Madrid’s “mentality” makes the LaLiga side difficult opponents in the clubs’ opening match of the 2025/26 Champions League.
Atleti have reached at least the quarter-finals on seven occasions since Diego Simeone took charge in 2011, as well as winning the Spanish title in 2013/14 and 2020/21 .
“Last time I faced them, [Antoine] Griezmann was outstanding,” said Slot, referencing the two defeats his Feyenoord team suffered during the 2023/24 group stage.
“But now I have players who can do things like him. At Feyenoord at that time, the players I had – although I love them – weren’t at the stage of their careers where they could do that.”
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New signing Nico Gonzalez reckons Liverpool are “not intimidating” for an Atleti squad who earned their first win of the season at the fourth attempt on Saturday, beating fellow Champions League participants Villarreal 2-0 at home.
“We know the kind of players Liverpool have,” said the forward (via AS), who has joined from Juventus on a season-long loan for an initial fee of almost £900,000 with an obligation to buy for around £27.7 million.
“We know they play in the best league in the world, if you will, [in] the Premier League, but… ultimately, it’s 11 against 11.
“A lot of things can happen. Anything. From the moment the referee blows his whistle, it’ll be 90 minutes in which you have to give it your all.”
Liverpool v Atletico Madrid team news
British-record £125 million signing Alexander Isak is yet to feature in a Liverpool matchday squad but Slot has suggested the deadline day arrival is likeliest to make his debut from the bench.
The striker trained for the first time with his new club on Wednesday but the 25-year-old is lacking match fitness, having missed Newcastle’s pre-season and the opening three weeks of the campaign.
The second-top scorer in the Premier League to the Reds’ Mohamed Salah last season, Isak had an 18-minute run-out during Sweden’s 2-0 defeat in Kosovo on September 8 and Liverpool boss Arne Slot praised Blagult manager Jon Dahl Tomasson for his careful treatment of his star signing.
Isak scored one goal in five appearances during Newcastle’s 2023/24 Champions League campaign.
Alexis Mac Allister’s return to full fitness was not helped by a late challenge on his ankle from Lesley Ugochukwu during the first half of Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Burnley on Sunday.
The Argentina international required treatment and was replaced at the break but Slot suggested he will feature against Atleti.
Fellow midfielder Curtis Jones remains absent with an unspecified injury but Slot hopes the 24-year-old will return to training imminently and be available for the visit of Everton on Saturday.
Seven of Julian Alvarez’s 29 goals for Atleti last season came in the Champions League, so the striker’s absence with knee discomfort – having been substituted at half-time against Villarreal – is a significant blow.
The former Manchester City striker sustained the problem while setting up Pablo Barrios’s ninth-minute opener and will remain in Spain together with injured centre-back Jose Maria Gimenez (hamstring) and midfielders Johnny Cardoso (ankle), Thiago Almada (soleus) and Alex Baena (appendicitis).
Left-back or centre-back David Hancko has travelled but is a doubt with an ankle knock. Gonzalez and centre-back Robin Le Normand asked to be substituted against Villarreal but are expected to be in contention.
Liverpool v Atletico Madrid predicted lineups
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson Becker, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike
Atleti starting XI: Jan Oblak, Marcos Llorente, Robin Le Normand, David Hancko, Matteo Ruggeri, Pablo Barrios, Koke, Giuliano Simeone, Antoine Griezmann, Nico Gonzalez, Alexander Sorloth
How to watch Liverpool v Atleti: Live stream, TV channel
The match kicks off at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT) on Wednesday and is being shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.
TNT Sports costs £29.99 a month through discovery+, which includes Eurosport and entertainment and is available on a vast range of devices including smart TVs and gaming consoles.
Liverpool v Atletico Madrid stats
- In 12 of the last 13 Liverpool matches the sum of goals was over 3.5
- In 14 of the last 16 Liverpool matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In the last 5 Liverpool matches the sum of goals was over 4.5
- In the last 4 Liverpool home matches the sum of goals was over 4.5
- Liverpool have won the last 3 home matches in a row and the sum of goals was over 4.5
- In the last 13 Atletico Madrid matches in the Champions League, the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 8 of the last 9 Atletico Madrid away matches in the Champions League, the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In the last 5 Atletico Madrid matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- Atletico Madrid have won 5 of the last 7 matches in the Champions League and the sum of goals was over 2.5
- Atletico Madrid have won 5 of the last 7 matches in the Champions League while scoring more than 1.5 goals
Liverpool v Atletico Madrid prediction
Liverpool are considerable favourites to win a 15th successive European home game and their third in a row in matches against Atleti, who they beat twice during the 2021/22 group stage.
Atleti can take inspiration from their 3-2 win at Anfield in March 2020 to progress to the quarter-finals – including two goals from Marcos Llorente during extra time – but their injury problems and uncertain start to the season make a positive result seem all the less likely.
There could be added value in picking both teams to score, given that Atleti have won their last five matches in the league phase and scored in all but one of their last 16 games before the knockout stage.
With that in mind, back Liverpool to gain revenge for that epic defeat with a 3-2 victory.