Liverpool return to Champions League action on Wednesday night, hosting Atletico Madrid at Anfield in the opening fixture of the 2026-27 league phase.
Andoni Iraola’s side arrive on the back of a mixed start to the domestic season, having drawn their opening two Premier League matches 2-2, against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, before claiming their first league win against Ipswich Town on Friday.
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Alexander Isak scored twice in that game, while the win also marked the debut of £123m summer signing Bradley Barcola.
Atletico Madrid travel to Merseyside out of form. Diego Simeone’s side suffered a 3-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao at the weekend and continue to have problems up front.
The two clubs last met in the Champions League on September 17, 2025, when Liverpool won 3-2 at Anfield.
While attention on Merseyside builds towards Wednesday’s game, Liverpool have also confirmed a significant step forward for one of their academy’s brightest prospects.
The club have announced that midfielder Haydn Murray-Holme has signed his first professional contract.
Murray-Holme, 17, is from the Wirral and has been with Liverpool since the age of six, when he joined the club’s pre-Academy set-up.
He progressed through the youth ranks before establishing himself as a key figure in the U18 side during the 2025-26 season, his first year as a scholar.
His performances for the U18s last season stood out statistically. He recorded 10 assists, led the division for progressive passes with an average of 15 per 90 minutes, ranked among the top three for passes into the final third, and created 29 goalscoring opportunities.
His progress had already caught the eye at senior level. After a UEFA Youth League appearance against PSV Eindhoven, under-21s head coach Rob Page described his display as “outstanding,” praising the midfielder for his composure and willingness to play between the lines rather than settle for safe options.
That form drew interest from clubs in England and abroad, prompting Liverpool to move to secure his long-term future.
The club offered Murray-Holme a multi-year professional deal over the summer, viewing him as one of the standout talents in an academy already producing first-team opportunities for young players.
Murray-Holme is represented by Prolific Sports Group, an agency that also looks after Netherlands international Jeremie Frimpong.
His move to the agency in the spring pointed towards a player and camp preparing for the next stage of his development at Anfield.
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