The floodlights are shining brightly over Anfield tonight, and there is a very special feeling in the air. It is time for Liverpool to start their new Champions League journey for the 2026-27 season. Their first opponents are the tough Spanish team, Atlético Madrid.
When you play for a big club like Liverpool, these European nights are what every player dreams about. Our captain, Virgil van Dijk, wrote about this exact feeling in the [matchday programme.](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/virgil-van-dijk-we-cant-wait-another-champions-league-campaign) He reminded everyone how lucky the team is to play in Europe’s biggest tournament.
**“When you play for Liverpool, these are the nights you live for, challenging yourself against the best teams and the best players,” Van Dijk wrote. “It is a privilege that must never be taken for granted. I know you guys know that, and I know that Anfield will be rocking as usual tonight.”**
This year is also very special because it is the 50th anniversary of Liverpool winning their very first European Cup in Rome back in 1977. The club has entered this famous tournament 30 times now, and everyone is hoping this season will be another memorable one.
A Fresh Start with a New Manager
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Life at Liverpool has changed a little bit since last season. A new manager, Andoni Iraola, has taken charge of the team after arriving over the summer.
The start of the Premier League season has been a bit of a mixed ride. Liverpool started with two draws and same 2-2 scoreline against Newcastle and against Nottingham Forest. Those games left the fans wanting more. But last Friday, the team finally clicked and got their first big win under their new boss, beating Ipswich Town 2-0 away from home.
The hero of that match was Alexander Isak. He scored two brilliant goals in the very first nine minutes of the game. His performance saved manager Andoni Iraola from an unwanted record; no Liverpool manager had failed to win any of their first three top-flight games since Brendan Rodgers.
After the match, Iraola admitted how much the team needed that victory. The win also featured some fantastic moments from other players. Cody Gakpo gave two amazing assists, new signing Ronald Araújo played his first Premier League match in the starting lineup, and another new face, Bradley Barcola, came off the bench in the second half.
Van Dijk was very happy with how everyone played together, especially the defence.
**“The three points are the most important thing, of course, and we needed those, but the way we worked together as a team, the way we pressed and defended and fought to preserve the clean sheet was very pleasing,” the captain said.**
Now, the team has to bring that same energy into the Champions League.
A Dangerous Opponent in Atlético Madrid
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Even though Liverpool got a good win last weekend, tonight’s game will be very difficult. Atlético Madrid are a strong, experienced team that never makes things easy.
Atlético come to England looking to fix the mistakes they made over the weekend. On Saturday, they suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat away at Athletic Bilbao in La Liga. Their legendary manager, Diego Simeone who has been in charge of the club all the way back since December 2011 was not happy at all. He called the second-half collapse a “real wake-up call” for his players, especially because his defense has now conceded six goals in the second half over their last three matches.
Even so, you can never count out a Diego Simeone team, especially in Europe. Atlético have a long history in this competition, reaching the final three times and the semi-finals last season. However, they have a strange weakness when playing English teams in the group stage or League Phase. They have never actually won a match against an English club in this round of the tournament, drawing four and losing six of their ten tries.
At the same time, their attack is always dangerous. Atlético have scored in 22 of their last 24 games at this stage of the competition, and they have only failed to score once in their last five visits to Anfield.
Van Dijk knows his team will have to be at their absolute best to stop them.
**“Tonight will be another tough game. We are welcoming a very strong opponent, one we have become pretty familiar with in recent years,” Van Dijk warned. “Atletico Madrid will always compete and they will always have quality. We will need to work extremely hard if we want to start with a victory this evening.”**
Remembering Last Year’s Crazy Match
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If you love football drama, you probably remember the last time these two teams met at Anfield on matchday one last season. It was an absolute thriller that ended in a 3-2 victory for Liverpool.
The game was tight, but right at the end of the match in the 92nd minute Virgil van Dijk jumped high into the air and headed a brilliant winner into the back of the net.
In fact, Liverpool have developed an exciting (and heart-stopping) habit of scoring late winners. In many of their recent games, they have found the winning goal in the 83rd minute or later.
What Happens Next?
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The stage is set for a massive night of football. Both teams want to start their Champions League campaign with three points. Liverpool have a great record against Spanish teams at home, having won their last six League Phase matches against Spanish opponents while keeping clean sheets in four of their last five.
With the fans making noise from the stands and the players ready to fight for every ball, tonight promises to be another unforgettable European night.
**As the captain said: “Together, let’s make this another classic Champions League night at Anfield.”**