Liverpool open up their Champions League campaign with a tough test at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, live at 8pm on TNT Sports 1.
Liverpool, who topped the league phase table last term, have won all four of their Premier League games this season, while visiting Atletico have had a slow start to their own league campaign with just one win to their name.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Prediction & Tips
Liverpool To Win + Both Teams To Score @ 2/1 with Betfair
Liverpool are strong favourites to extend their winning streak to five matches. While they’ve tightened up defensively in their last two outings, Atletico Madrid have more than enough quality to pose the hosts problems with Simeone’s side finding the back of the net in 15 of their last 16 group phase matches.
Second-Half Most Goals @ 11/10 with Betfair
A trend is starting to emerge in Liverpool’s matches this season with 11 of the 13 goals in their four games coming after the break. With the Reds leaving it late to clinch all four victories, there’s every chance Wednesday’s clash could follow a similar pattern.
Red card @ 6/1 with Betfair
There have already been two red cards in Liverpool’s first four matches this season; both shown to their opponents. With Atletico Madrid’s fiery style and history of emotionally charged encounters, a sending-off on Wednesday appeals at 6/1.
Liverpool Form & Team Setup
Liverpool are the only Premier League side to have taken maximum points from their first four matches, although they’ve left it late in all four games; most recently with a 95th-minute Mo Salah penalty sealing victory away at Burnley.
After a chaotic start to the season, with 11 goals across their first two games, the Reds have since ground out a pair of narrow 1-0 wins.
The Reds can draw on a favourable record in the new Champions League league phase, having topped the pile in the first edition last season with seven wins from their eight matches, before falling in the last-16 to PSG.
All eyes will be on whether Arne Slot hands a debut to £125m signing Alexander Isak, who was left out of the squad for the Burnley win. Given his limited minutes so far, a bench role seems more likely than a start against Atletico. Jeremie Frimpong could return to the starting-11 after a late cameo last weekend, while Curtis Jones remains sidelined, and Federico Chiesa was not included in the squad.
Atletico Madrid Form & Team Setup
Like Liverpool, Atletico Madrid impressed in last season’s Champions League league phase, winning six of their eight matches to progress automatically to the knockouts, where they suffered a painful penalty shootout defeat to rivals Real Madrid.
Under Diego Simeone, Atletico will aim to do what they do best: disrupt, frustrate, and capitalise on mistakes – a blueprint that worked to significant effect when they knocked Liverpool out in 2019/20.
However, they’ve made a sluggish start domestically, picking up just one point from their first three La Liga matches. That said, they head to Anfield boosted by a win over Villarreal.
Simeone has a few injury concerns to manage following the Villarreal clash, with several players picking up knocks, including former Man City forward Julian Alvarez, but Conor Gallagher could be set to start.
Head-to-Head Battles and What the Stats Reveal
Liverpool and Atletico Madrid have some memorable recent history in the Champions League. In the 2021/22 group stages, Liverpool beat Atletico home and away, including a 2-0 win at Anfield. However, it was Atletico who had the upper hand in their 2019/20 last-16 meeting, scoring three goals in extra time at Anfield to progress on aggregate.
Looking at their head-to-head record at Anfield, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last four home games against Atletico and have won the last three in 90 minutes (excluding extra time).
Goals tend to flow when these sides meet – both teams have scored in five of their eight encounters, and two of the last three meetings have featured five goals.
| Date | Match Result | Competition |
| 03/11/21 | Liverpool 2-0 Atletico Madrid | Champions League |
| 19/10/21 | Atletico Madrid 2-3 Liverpool | Champions League |
| 11/03/20 | Liverpool 2-3 Atletico Madrid (aet) | Champions League |
| 18/02/20 | Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool | Champions League |
| 29/04/10 | Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid | Champions League |
Key Battles on the Pitch
Mo Salah vs Matteo Ruggeri
Left-back Ruggeri can’t afford to switch off against Salah, who may have been quiet for large parts of the season, but has popped up in vital moments to secure the spoils.
Virgil van Dijk vs Julian Alvarez
Alvarez faces a late fitness test for the visitors but should he get the green light, he’ll be looking to cause problems for Liverpool’s van Dijk in what could prove to be a fascinating battle.
Florian Wirtz vs Koke
Wirtz has had an underwhelming start to life at the English champions but can draw on a fantastic 2024/25 Champions League campaign during which he scored six goals. His every move will be monitored by Atletico skipper Koke.