Liverpool host Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday, September 9 (3:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM PT).
Liverpool’s team news for this one is defined by absence: an injury-hit Joe Gomez, a back-troubled Federico Chiesa, a cruciate-ligament victim in Giovanni Leoni, a calf injury ruling out Hugo Ekitiké, and a knee problem for Conor Bradley are all unavailable at Anfield. That puts extra weight on the players who carried Liverpool’s attack last season — Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz are all in line to feature. Atletico Madrid’s situation is far simpler: an injured Obed Vargas is the club’s only absentee, leaving the visitors close to full strength with Julián Alvarez expected to lead their forward line.
This is a fixture built around contrasting attacking profiles. Liverpool’s threat last season ran through Szoboszlai and Wirtz picking locks from midfield, with van Dijk even chipping in from set pieces, while Atletico’s whole forward line leans on Alvarez, who outscored every other player named here with ten goals last season. Anfield’s atmosphere and Liverpool’s attacking options should count for plenty in this Champions League league-phase meeting, though Atletico rarely make the trip easy, and with both sides carrying legitimate goal threats, this looks set up for entertainment at both ends.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid: Best Bets & Predictions
Champions League league phase: team news, prediction and best bets for Anfield
Our approach: we've leaned on each side's underlying attacking numbers from last season and the shape of this specific matchup to build a set of picks that agree with each other rather than pull in different directions.
Odds correct at time of writing and shown in American format for illustration; your local odds may vary. 19+ (18+ in AB/MB/QC). Please play responsibly. ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON).
Season Form & Standings
Neither side has kicked a ball in this season’s league phase yet — Liverpool and Atletico Madrid both sit on zero points from zero matches, so this Anfield meeting is effectively the opening word in each side’s Champions League league-phase story.
Recent domestic form. Here’s how each side arrives domestically ahead of the European opener:
Liverpool · Premier League 2026/27
DDW
- 04 Sep – Ipswich Town 0–2 Liverpool (A) W
- 29 Aug – Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest (H) D
- 23 Aug – Newcastle United 2–2 Liverpool (A) D
Atletico Madrid · La Liga 2026/27
WDWL
- 05 Sep – Athletic Club 3–0 Atletico Madrid (A) L
- 29 Aug – Sevilla 1–3 Atletico Madrid (A) W
- 23 Aug – Atletico Madrid 2–2 Villarreal (H) D
- 19 Aug – Atletico Madrid 2–0 Malaga (H) W
Potential Match-Winners
- Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool): Szoboszlai was Liverpool’s most productive attacker last season, scoring 5 goals and creating 29 chances from midfield.
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool): Mac Allister added 3 goals and 12 chances created last season, giving Liverpool control and a goal threat from deeper areas.
- Julián Alvarez (Atletico Madrid): Alvarez was Atletico’s talisman last season, top-scoring with 10 goals from 46 shots and setting up 4 more.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Prediction
Backed by last season’s attacking numbers, Szoboszlai’s 5 goals and Alvarez’s 10, we’re siding with a narrow 2-1 Liverpool win, with goals at both ends of the pitch.