Liverpool will host Atletico Madrid at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, looking to continue a solid start to the season.
Liverpool have picked up four wins in a row in the Premier League, and they will be confident heading into the game vs Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see if they can grind out a positive result here. Winning the opening game of the UEFA Champions League campaign will give them a huge confidence boost.
There is no doubt that Arne Slot has a quality team, and they will be the favourites to pick up all three points. On the other hand, Atletico Madrid are a formidable side as well, although they have blown hot and cold in the early stages of the 2025/26 season.
That said, Liverpool cannot afford to underestimate the away side. Atletico Madrid know how to grind out important results away from home in crucial matches, and Diego Simeone is likely to make life difficult for the Premier League champions. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Milos Kerkez picked up a knock against Burnley, and he could miss out for Liverpool here. Curtis Jones is also sidelined with a knock. Additionally, there have been concerns around Alexis Mac Allister after a heavy tackle to his ankle this past weekend.
Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Atletico Madrid, with Alisson Becker in goal. Jeremie Frimpong and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. At the heart of the defence, Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk.
As for the midfield unit, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister will pair up in the double pivot in the middle of the park. They will look to control the tempo of the game and provide defensive cover to the centre-backs.
Florian Wirtz will start as the attacking midfielder here with Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa on either side of him. The two players will look to add pace, flair, and unpredictability to the Liverpool attack. Finally, Hugo Ekitike will lead the line for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid, with Alexander Isak missing out again.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Becker, Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Chiesa, Ekitike
Atletico Madrid
The visitors have a number of injury problems heading into this game. Alex Baena, Robin Le Normand, David Hancko, Jose Maria Gimenez, and Thiago Almada are all in the treatment room for the away side.
Atletico Madrid will shape up in a 4-4-2 formation vs Liverpool, with Jan Oblak in goal. Marcos Llorente and Matteo Ruggeri will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things tight defensively and help out during transition. Javi Galan and Clement Lenglet will pair up at the heart of the defence.
Giovanni Simeone and Nicolas Gonzalez will start on the flanks. They will look to protect the full-backs and help out in the final third. As for the midfield unit, Koke will start alongside Pablo Barrios. They will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park and break down the opposition’s attacking moves. Finally, Julian Alvarez will lead the line alongside Antoine Griezmann.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Oblak, Llorente, Lenglet, Galán, Ruggeri, De Paul, Barrios, Simeone, González, Álvarez, Griezmann
Key Stats
Liverpool have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last three home matches against Atletico Madrid in all competitions.
Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in their last three home matches against Atletico Madrid in all competitions.
Both teams have won three each in the last six outings between the two teams.
18 goals have been scored in the last six matches between the two teams.
Mohamed Salah has scored more goals (44) and made provided assists (17) than any other Liverpool player in the UEFA Champions League. If he features here, he will also move into outright second for most appearances for the Reds in the competition, overtaking Steven Gerrard (73), and trailing only Jamie Carragher (80).
Player to Watch
Florian Wirtz
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The German international has not been at his best since joining Liverpool, but they will need him to step up and produce a strong performance here. Atletico Madrid are a well-drilled, defensive unit, and Diego Simeone knows how to grind out results.
Atletico Madrid are likely to defend deep and make it difficult for Liverpool to create opportunities. The home side will need the ingenuity of Florian Wirtz here. The former Bayer Leverkusen talisman will need to create opportunities for his teammates with his vision, passing, flair, and technical ability.
Prediction
Liverpool 0-0 Atletico Madrid
Even though Liverpool have picked up four wins in the Premier League, their performances have been unconvincing. This could be a difficult outing for them. Atletico Madrid are an outstanding team defensively, and Liverpool will find it difficult to break them down.
The two sides are unlikely to get on the score sheet here, and it will be difficult to separate them. Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are likely to cancel each other out here and share the spoils in a goalless draw.