Liverpool welcome Atlético de Madrid to Anfield on September 9, 2026, with the Champions League fixture scheduled to begin at 19:00 local time. For the second consecutive season, Liverpool start their European campaign at home against the Spanish side. The match also marks Andoni Iraola’s first experience as a manager in the competition, while Atlético arrive under Diego Simeone, described as the sixth-most experienced manager in Champions League history. The visitors’ coach has won three and drawn one of his four previous meetings with Iraola. Liverpool enter the contest after collecting their first victory of the season, whereas Atlético are attempting to respond to a heavy domestic defeat. The Champions League rankings place Liverpool fifth and Atlético de Madrid 11th, adding further significance to this opening encounter.

Liverpool Recent Form and Key Statistics

Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory away to Ipswich Town on September 4. That result followed two consecutive draws and represented their first win and first clean sheet of the season. Across their last five matches, the Reds have registered two wins and three draws, remaining undefeated while averaging 1.6 goals scored and 0.8 conceded per game.

Their Champions League trends suggest that decisive results and multiple goals are common. Liverpool have not drawn any of their last 33 matches in the competition, while their run without a home draw stands at 17 Champions League games. More than 1.5 total goals have been recorded in each of Liverpool’s last 16 fixtures and in all of their previous 15 home matches.

Anfield has also produced a strong European record for the hosts. Liverpool have won 17 of their last 18 home matches in Europe, losing only once, and they are unbeaten when playing their opening Champions League game at home. They have suffered a matchday-one defeat only twice across their last 15 campaigns in the competition. In addition, Liverpool have won their last six league-stage or group-stage meetings with Spanish opposition.

Cody Gakpo has contributed one goal and three assists during the early part of the season. He supplied both assists in the 2-0 win over Ipswich and therefore approaches this match after directly influencing Liverpool’s breakthrough victory. Bradley Barcola made his debut during the weekend and is another available attacking option. Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley, however, are listed as absentees.

Atlético de Madrid Recent Form and Key Statistics

Atlético de Madrid travel to England after losing 3-0 against Athletic Club on September 5. It was their fourth competitive fixture of the season, and their only clean sheet so far came in their opening match against Málaga. Their last five-game record remains positive overall, consisting of three wins, one draw and one defeat. During that sequence, Atlético averaged 1.8 goals scored and 1.4 conceded.

The challenge is made more difficult by Atlético’s record in this type of Champions League fixture. They have played 10 group-stage or league-phase matches against English teams without recording a victory. Their wider away form is another concern, with eight defeats suffered across their last 12 matches on the road.

Atlético’s Champions League games have regularly produced early action. At least one first-half goal has been scored in each of their last 13 matches in the tournament, and the same outcome occurred in 18 of their previous 20 away fixtures in the competition. They have also been behind at half-time in their last three Champions League appearances. In the second half, at least one goal was recorded in 18 of Atlético’s last 20 European away matches.

Marcos Llorente scored twice at Anfield in last season’s meeting and has featured in all four of Atlético’s competitive matches this season. Cristian Romero is also available, while Alex Sorloth is expected to miss the fixture.

Liverpool vs Atlético de Madrid Match Analysis

The recent head-to-head record gives Liverpool a notable advantage. The Reds have won four of the five listed meetings, with Atlético taking the other match and no draws occurring. Liverpool averaged 1.8 goals scored and 1.0 conceded over that sequence. The latest encounter ended in a 3-2 Liverpool victory on September 17, 2025, when Virgil van Dijk scored in stoppage time after the hosts had surrendered a 2-0 lead. That was Liverpool’s fourth successive win in the fixture, with three of those victories finishing 3-2.

The broader numbers point towards another game containing meaningful attacking moments. Over 1.5 total goals have been scored in 27 of Atlético’s last 29 Champions League matches, complementing Liverpool’s long sequence of games clearing the same threshold. The supplied probabilities give Liverpool a 47% chance of winning, compared with 23% for a draw and 29% for an Atlético victory. They also assign a 58% probability to over 2.5 goals and 57% to both teams scoring.

The first half may be particularly important. Liverpool have avoided a half-time deficit in 20 of their last 21 home Champions League fixtures and have led at the interval in 12 of their last 18 home matches across all competitions. Atlético, by contrast, have been behind at half-time in three consecutive Champions League games. Combined with the visitors’ run of 13 tournament matches featuring a first-half goal, the evidence strongly supports the prospect of the score changing before the break.

Liverpool vs Atlético de Madrid prediction from BetMines: Over 0.5 goals at Half-Time with 81% probability.