Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid: Champions League Preview and Predictions

Premier League leaders Liverpool are set to make their first foray into Champions League football this season tonight. They’ll take on Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid – a tough game for even the most accomplished of teams.

Liverpool have racked up a perfect record in the Premier League so far this season, winning three out of three. Comparatively, Atletico have struggled in La Liga – they currently sit 11th in the league table. Can they put their domestic form aside when they travel to Anfield this evening?

Match Preview

Arne Slot’s men scraped past ten-man Burnley at the weekend. The Clarets defended especially well, preventing Liverpool from rattling off shots. Nevertheless, a red card, followed by a penalty soon after, was all Liverpool needed to secure all three points.

Despite Atletico’s lacklustre start to the 2025/26 season, they were able to pick up a crucial win on Saturday as they defeated Villareal by a score of 2-0. Pablo Barrios and Nico Gonzalez were the goalscorers on the day as they out-hustled the Yellow Submarine.

A direct, difficult to break down outfit, Liverpool will need to be on top of their game if they wish to come away with a win tonight.

Liverpool injury news

Liverpool have just one injury concern heading into the game against Atletico. Curtis Jones was not fit to play against Burnley after suffering a back injury and is also likely to miss out on tonight’s game, too.

While this midweek clash will come too soon for him, the Liverpool academy graduate could be fit to play again before the end of the month.

Liverpool predicted XI

GK: Alisson

RB: Jeremie Frimpong

CB: Virgil van Dijk

CB: Ibrahima Konate

LB: Andy Robertson

CM: Ryan Gravenberch

CM: Dominik Szoboszlai

RW: Mohamed Salah

AM: Florian Wirtz

LW: Cody Gakpo

ST: Alexander Isak

Atletico Madrid predicted XI

GK: Jan Oblak

RB: Marcos Llorente

CB: Marc Pubill

CB: Clement Lenglet

LB: Javi Galan

RM: Nico Gonzalez

CM: Koke

CM: Conor Gallagher

LM: Giuliano Simeone

ST: Alexander Sorloth

ST: Antoine Griezmann

Who will win the game?

While Atletico often use their physicality to good effect in La Liga, it rarely works against the more robust Premier League teams. Liverpool have plenty of physical players – they should be able to cope with Simeone’s tactical onslaught.

Given the two teams’ form over the course of the season, the Reds certainly look the more likely to win this one – but don’t expect Atletico to make it easy for them.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Atletico Madrid