Bradley Barcola of Liverpool takes part in a training session at the AXA Training Centre on September 8 2026
Bradley Barcola of Liverpool takes part in a training session at the AXA Training Centre on September 8 2026(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
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Here we go. Andoni Iraola takes another step in his burgeoning career as Liverpool head coach when he takes charge of his first game in the Champions League this evening.
For the fourth time in eight years, Atletico Madrid are the opposition at Anfield with a repeat of the fixture at this stage of the season last year.
Liverpool have won the last three meetings against Diego Simeone's side having won only one of their first six games against Atletico stretching back to 2008.
But how should the Reds line up for their opening Champions League game of the campaign? Our ECHO writers take a look...
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Ian Doyle
The Champions League returns and, well wouldn't you know it, Liverpool face a team from Madrid. So much for the element of surprise in European competition these days.
What, though, is Reds boss Andoni Iraola to do?
With five days since the win at Ipswich Town, there's little need to rotate for the sake of it. So that means Liverpool should be largely unchanged, particularly in defence where Ronald Araujo did well at right-back at Portman Road. Milos Kerkez is the left-back, skipper Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet the centre-backs and Alisson Becker the goalkeeper.
In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister retains his place at the base alongside Dominik Szoboszlai with Florian Wirtz the number 10.
Up top, though, it's time for Bradley Barcola to make a full debut on the left, with Victor Munoz on the other flank and Alexander Isak down the middle.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Munoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak.
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Mark Jones
Lights, camera, action, barely any jeopardy at all until about late November. The Champions League is back.
It is all new for Andoni Iraola though of course, and he could barely have wished for a more seasoned opponent for his first experience at the top table of European football.
Diego Simeone has done pretty much everything there is to do in the Champions League bar win it, and the two-time finalist, and last season's semi-finalist, will certainly set up his side to test the hosts.
How does Iraola play it then? Well Alisson will be in goal, and perhaps it could be time for Jeremy Jacquet to get a breather after three successive starts since his arrival. Ronald Araujo, a veteran of facing this opposition, moves over to partner Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez is the left-back and Jeremie Frimpong can try and build some confidence on the right.
Dominik Szoboszlai can partner the curiously talkative Alexis Mac Allister in midfield, and while Cody Gakpo would have started had he not missed training, best to wrap him in cotton wool and unleash Bradley Barcola for his full debut.
Florian Wirtz, Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak can make up the rest of the side.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Araujo, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Munoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak
Richard Garnett
You couldn't blame Andoni Iraola if he got a little bit over-excited tonight when he hears the familiar toots of the Champions League anthem before kick-off, but the reality is that the Reds have faced Atletico Madrid more times in the last six years than the team they beat in the Premier League last Friday evening, so the home faithful will demand an uplifting performance here to get their pulses racing.
Alisson continues in goal, with the impressive Ronald Araujo retaining his place ahead of Jeremie Frimpong, partly on the strength of his experience against La Liga opposition. Jaquet, Van Dijk and Kerkez complete the back four.
In midfield, I'm giving Dominic Szoboszlai a rest and starting with a central pairing of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, who should say what he really thinks in press conferences. Florian Wirtz was built for the biggest stage, apparently, so he continues in the No. 10 spot.
Cody Gakpo picked a bad time to get injured, but it helps if you've got a double Champions League winner to bring in to replace him. Bradly Barcola gets his first start on the left wing, with the bullish Victor Munoz on the right and in-form Alexander Isak once again leading the line.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Munoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak.