**Team**
Bradley Barcola made his first start for the Reds as Iraola opted for two changes on his first Champions League teamsheet as a coach, the other seeing Rio Ngumoha brought in.
Cody Gakpo missed out due to minor adductor issues.
Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez (Tsimikas, 88), Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Isak (Koumas, 88), Mac Allister (Gravenberch, 69), Barcola (Munoz, 60), Araujo, Ngumoha (Frimpong, 60).
Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Nyoni, Chambers, McConnell, Danns.
**First half**
Liverpool could have scored just 15 seconds into their 30th season of competing in the European Cup.
Szoboszlai was able to power into space in the Atletico half and feed Alexander Isak to his right, but the striker’s low hit across goal was wide of the far post.
The earliest of excitement eased into a more expected probing and jabbing by both sides, featuring only half-chances.
A more promising opportunity came on the quarter-hour for the Reds.
Barcola sweetly brought a dropping Szoboszlai pass into the box under control, only for his effort at an ever-narrowing angle to be blocked by Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
The visitors took the lead within moments, Llorente springing in behind to meet a through ball and clipping it over Alisson Becker when one-on-one.
Liverpool’s goalkeeper had to be at full stretch soon after to tip away Julian Alvarez’s dangerous drive from outside the box that was heading into the left corner.
Oblak was an obstacle again as Isak’s scoop from the left picked out the arriving Florian Wirtz in the box, although the save was followed by an offside flag in any case.
A series of strong challenges created a thread of tetchiness as the half advanced, and it ended with the score even.
Oblak had foiled Barcola’s finish seconds before a bobbling ball was cutely flicked by Ronald Araujo for Szoboszlai to dispatch from close range.