Liverpool and Atletico Madrid kick-start their 2026-2027 Champions League campaign with a mouth-watering League Phase battle at Anfield on Wednesday night.This fixture represents a repeat of matchday one from last season when the Reds claimed a thrilling 3-2 victory over their Spanish counterparts at Anfield, with Virgil van Dijk netting a dramatic late winner.Download Our MozzartSport App For More NewsThe Reds enter the tie buoyed by securing their first win under new manager Andoni Iraola, picking up a 2-0 away victory against Ipswich Town.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945959##Meanwhile, Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid will be seeking a swift response following a wake-up call at the weekend, where their unbeaten La Liga start came to an abrupt halt in a 3-0 defeat away at Athletic Bilbao.Kick-off: 10:00 PM (Kenyan Time), Wednesday 09 SeptemberVenue: Anfield, LiverpoolUEFA Champions League (League Phase – Matchday 1)Current standings: Both teams 0 points (Opening Matchday)Alonso vetoed his former teammateQualification implications: The top 8 teams automatically advance to the Round of 16, while positions 9-24 enter the knockout phase play-offs.Form GuideLiverpool✅ Win vs Ipswich Town (2-0)➖ Draw vs Nottingham Forest (2-2)➖ Draw vs Newcastle United (2-2)✅ Win vs Como (2-0)➖ Draw vs Como (0-0)##NAJAVA_MECA_9946125##Atletico Madrid❌ Loss vs Athletic Bilbao (0-3)✅ Win vs Sevilla (3-1)➖ Draw vs Villarreal (2-2)✅ Win vs Malaga (2-0)✅ Win vs Marseille (2-1)Head-to-Head (Last Five Meetings)Liverpool 3-2 Atletico Madrid (2025 Champions League)Liverpool 2-0 Atletico Madrid (2021 Champions League)Atletico Madrid 2-3 Liverpool (2021 Champions League)Liverpool 2-3 Atletico Madrid (2020 Champions League – AET)Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (2020 Champions League)Team NewsLiverpool❌ Hugo Ekitike – Achilles injury (out).❌ Conor Bradley – Knee injury (out).❌ Giovanni Leoni – Knee injury (out).🟡 Joe Gomez – Muscle injury, subject to late assessment.Atletico Madrid❌ Alexander Sorloth – Thigh injury (out).❌ Arnau Ortiz – Suspended.More midfielders? United ask about NmechaPlayer to Watch: Alexander Isak (Liverpool)Alexander Isak unlocked his Liverpool career with a double inside the opening nine minutes against Ipswich Town last Friday.The Swedish striker showed dynamic movement and clinical finishing, providing a glimpse of how potent Andoni Iraola’s frontline can be when firing on all cylinders.Despite holding a quiet record in Europe overall, Isak enters this Champions League opener with huge momentum and purpose.Facing an Atletico Madrid defense that has leaked six second-half goals across their last three matches, his physical presence and link-up play with Florian Wirtz will be crucial to breaking down Simeone's backline.🟢 Safe Bet (Low Risk)Liverpool Win or Draw (Double Chance)🟡 Smart Bet (Medium Risk)Both Teams to Score – Yes🔴 Long Shot (High Risk)Liverpool to Win and Both Teams to ScoreDisclaimer: Whilst we do our utmost to offer good advice and information, we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling.
117
previous post