Atlético Madrid make their return to Anfield with revenge on their minds, having fallen short in both meetings with Liverpool during the 2021/22 group stage. On each occasion, Diego Simeone’s men were undone by ill-discipline, as they finished both matches with a man sent off.
Those frustrations still linger, and they will fuel the visitors as they seek to overturn the recent narrative in this Champions League clash.
Liverpool, for their part, enter the contest as defending Premier League champions and with European ambitions sharpened after last season’s early exit. The atmosphere promises to be intense, the margins fine, and history suggests another fierce battle awaits between two of Europe’s most combative clubs.
Here is your Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid preview.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid: Preview
Liverpool have made a flawless start to the defence of their Premier League crown. Arne Slot’s men boast four wins from four, each sealed by goals in the final 10 minutes, a new English football record.
Their latest victory came at Burnley, where Mohamed Salah converted a stoppage-time penalty to secure a 1–0 win and preserve their perfect tally of 12 points.
On the European stage, Liverpool are also formidable at Anfield. The Reds have won each of their last 14 home games in UEFA competition, scoring two or more goals in 13 of them.
After last season’s last-16 elimination at the hands of eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain, Slot’s side will be intent on a stronger run this time around.
On the other hand, Atlético’s domestic campaign began in frustrating fashion, with a 2–1 defeat to Espanyol followed by back-to-back 1–1 draws against Elche and Alavés.
However, they returned from the international break with a 2–0 home win over Villarreal, courtesy of goals from Pablo Barrios and Nico González. Even so, Diego Simeone’s squad is dealing with a growing injury list that could complicate preparations for Anfield.
In Europe, Atlético remain one of the competition’s most consistent participants, entering the Champions League for the 13th consecutive season.
Simeone’s teams have built their reputation on defensive resilience, keeping clean sheets in 42% of their Champions League fixtures during his tenure, the best record for any Spanish club under a single manager with 50+ matches.
Moreover, Los Rojiblancos have scored in 15 of their last 16 league-phase games and have lost only twice in their last 15 Matchday 1 fixtures.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid: Team News
Atlético Madrid arrive at Anfield with growing injury concerns. Julián Álvarez (knee) and David Hancko (ankle) both came off injured against Villarreal, and while Robin Le Normand (back) and Nico González (cramp) may recover in time, doubts remain over their availability.
Diego Simeone is already without José María Giménez, Thiago Almada and Álex Baena, which leaves him short of defensive options if Le Normand cannot feature. Should Álvarez miss out, Antoine Griezmann is expected to partner Alexander Sørloth up front, while Matteo Ruggeri could deputise for Hancko at left-back.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are in better shape. Curtis Jones is sidelined and Stefan Bajčetić is still regaining fitness after hamstring surgery, although Alexis Mac Allister should be available despite being forced off against Burnley. Arne Slot is expected to rotate his squad, and Alexander Isak could be handed his first European start for the club.
Previous Meetings
Liverpool and Atlético Madrid will meet again in the 2025/26 group stage on September 17, 2025, at Anfield. Their head-to-head record is perfectly balanced, with two wins each and two draws across six encounters. Liverpool have scored nine goals, while Atlético have managed eight.
The most recent clashes came in the 2021/22 group stage. On October 19, 2021, Atlético hosted Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano and lost 2–3. Just two weeks later, on November 3, 2021, the return fixture at Anfield ended 2–0 to Liverpool in front of over 50,000 fans.
Before that, the two sides produced one of the most dramatic ties in recent Champions League history. In the 2019/20 Round of 16, Atlético won the first leg 1–0 at home on February 18, 2020.
Then, in the second leg at Anfield on March 11, 2020, Liverpool led 2–1 after ninety minutes but conceded twice in extra time, losing 2–3 on the night and 2–4 on aggregate.
Their rivalry had first begun in the 2008/09 group stage. The game at the Vicente Calderón on October 22, 2008, ended in a 1–1 draw, and the reverse fixture at Anfield on November 4, 2008, also finished 1–1.
Head-to-Head Record
| Season | Stage | Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| 25/26 | Group Stage | Sep 17, 2025 | Liverpool | -:- | Atlético Madrid |
| 21/22 | Group B | Nov 3, 2021 | Liverpool | 2–0 | Atlético Madrid |
| 21/22 | Group B | Oct 19, 2021 | Atlético Madrid | 2–3 | Liverpool |
| 19/20 | Last 16 2nd L | Mar 11, 2020 | Liverpool | 2–3 AET | Atlético Madrid |
| 19/20 | Last 16 1st L | Feb 18, 2020 | Atlético Madrid | 1–0 | Liverpool |
| 08/09 | Group D | Nov 4, 2008 | Liverpool | 1–1 | Atlético Madrid |
| 08/09 | Group D | Oct 22, 2008 | Atlético Madrid | 1–1 | Liverpool |
Overall record: Played 6: Liverpool 2 wins, Atlético 2 wins, Draws 2 – Goals: Liverpool 9, Atlético 8.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid: Key Stats
- Liverpool have won their last four Champions League group/league matches against Spanish teams. They defeated Atleti twice in the 2021/22 group stage (3-2a, 2-0h) and recorded wins against both Real Madrid (2-0h) and Girona (1-0a) in the 2024/25 league phase.
- The Reds have won their last 14 home UEFA club competition group/league matches, scoring two goals or more in the most recent 13 of those games and keeping nine clean sheets in the last 12.
- Liverpool had won 12 successive Champions League group/league matches prior to their 3-2 defeat at PSV on Matchday 8 of the 2024/25 league phase, and have won nine of their most recent 14 Matchday 1 fixtures (D3 L2) in the competition.
- Florian Wirtz has scored six goals in his first nine appearances in the Champions League proper – the most scored by a German player in his opening nine matches in the competition – while Mohamed Salah has 18 goals in his last 20 Champions League group/league outings.
- Atleti have won only one of their last eight Champions League matches against English teams (D2 L5) and have never tasted victory against an English side in a UEFA competition group/league game (D4 L4 – all in the Champions League).
- The Madrid club have lost their Matchday 1 fixture in only two of their previous 15 Champions League campaigns (W8 D5).
- Diego Simeone’s men have scored in 15 of their last 16 Champions League group/league matches.
