The UEFA Champions League is back, and what better way to kick things off than with a blockbuster clash at Anfield? On September 17, 2025, Liverpool host Atletico Madrid in the opening matchday of the revamped league phase. Under new manager Arne Slot, the Reds are riding high after a perfect start to their Premier League title defense, while Diego Simeone’s Atletico look to shake off a sluggish La Liga campaign. This fixture has a history of drama, from heartbreaks to triumphs, and promises to be a tactical chess match blending Liverpool’s high-energy press with Atletico’s gritty resolve.
If you’re searching for “Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid prediction” or “Champions League head-to-head stats,” you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive into the key details, including their storied rivalry, potential lineups and more.
Head-to-Head: A Rivalry Packed with Drama
Liverpool and Atletico Madrid have locked horns eight times in competitive European fixtures, mostly in the Champions League, with the balance perfectly even: three wins each and two draws. The encounters often feel like knockout ties, full of tension and late twists.
Their first meetings came in the 2008-09 Champions League group stage, ending in two 1-1 draws. Robbie Keane and Simao Sabrosa scored in Madrid, while Maxi Rodriguez and a Steven Gerrard penalty leveled it at Anfield.
Fast-forward to the 2019-20 last-16 tie, where Atletico pulled off one of the great Anfield upsets. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Liverpool pushed hard but fell 3-0 in extra time at home (4-2 aggregate), with Marcos Llorente’s brace and Alvaro Morata’s winner shattering dreams amid the early COVID-19 lockdown.
Liverpool flipped the script in the 2021-22 group stage, winning 3-2 away and 2-0 at Anfield, thanks to goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Overall, matches average 2.83 goals, with both teams scoring in 50% of them.
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2008 | Champions League | Atletico 1-1 Liverpool |
| Oct 21, 2008 | Champions League | Liverpool 1-1 Atletico |
| Mar 11, 2020 | Champions League | Liverpool 2-3 Atletico (AET) |
| Feb 26, 2020 | Champions League | Atletico 1-0 Liverpool |
| Nov 3, 2021 | Champions League | Liverpool 2-0 Atletico |
| Oct 19, 2021 | Champions League | Atletico 2-3 Liverpool |
| May 18, 2018 | Europa League Final | Atletico 3-0 Marseille (N/A for H2H) |
| Various | Total H2H | 3W-2D-3L for Liverpool |
Atletico have won just one of their last eight against English sides in the Champions League since that 2020 triumph, but they’ve got a knack for silencing Anfield crowds.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Liverpool head into this unbeaten in their last 14 Champions League openers, boasting a 10-1 aggregate in their four home league-phase wins last season (including a 2-0 over Real Madrid). Slot’s side has won all four Premier League games so far, though often late—like Mohamed Salah’s 94th-minute penalty at Burnley. Injuries are minimal: Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic are out, Alexis Mac Allister is a doubt after a knock, and Milos Kerkez is sidelined. The big buzz? Record signing Alexander Isak (£125m from Newcastle) is fit for 45 minutes and could debut off the bench, but Hugo Ekitike might start up top. Federico Chiesa is absent from the UCL squad.
Atletico, meanwhile, sit 11th in La Liga after a 2-0 win over Villarreal—their first victory following a loss and two draws. Simeone’s men reached three UCL finals without winning (all losses to Real Madrid), but they’re chasing that elusive trophy. Injuries hit hard: Julian Alvarez, Robin Le Normand, David Hancko, and Nahuel Molina are doubts, thinning their defense. Antoine Griezmann, who has scored or assisted 26% of Atletico’s UCL goals (51/197), will be key.
Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Subs: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Mac Allister (if fit), Diaz, Nunez, Isak.
Predicted Atletico Madrid Lineup (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Lenglet, Gimenez, Ruggeri; Koke, Barrios, Simeone, Giuliano; Griezmann, Sorloth.
Subs: Fenandez, Reinildo, De Paul, Saul, Morata, Correa.
Liverpool’s attack, led by Salah (44 UCL goals, most for the club), should test Atletico’s leaky backline (no clean sheet until Villarreal). But Simeone’s 42% clean-sheet rate in UCL under his tenure is the best for any Spanish manager with 50+ games.
Recent Form: Liverpool Flying High, Atletico Finding Feet
Liverpool are the form team, topping the Premier League with 12 points from four wins. They’ve kept clean sheets in three straight UCL home games vs. Atletico and won seven of eight league-phase matches last season (21 points). Slot’s rotation will be key after a grueling start—expect energy from Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo in midfield.
Atletico have only won one of their last eight UCL games vs. English teams but boast a strong record in openers (unbeaten in 14 of 15). Their La Liga struggles stem from defensive woes, conceding in three of four, but Griezmann’s creativity could exploit Liverpool’s occasional openness.
Key stats:
- Liverpool: Unbeaten in 14 UCL openers (W11 D3), 2.17 PPG at home.
- Atletico: Scored in 15/16 UCL league/group games, 1.43 PPG away.
- H2H trend: Under 2.5 goals in 6/7 recent meetings.
Score Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid
This screams a tight, tactical battle—Liverpool’s home fortress (10-1 aggregate in UCL last season) vs. Atletico’s resilience. The Opta supercomputer gives the Reds a 57.9% win chance, but Simeone’s sides are masters of low-scoring spoils. Expect Salah or Wirtz to break through early, Griezmann to equalize, and a late Ekitike or Isak sub to seal it. Both teams to score (50% H2H rate) and over 2.5 goals feels likely, but we’ll go with a narrow home win to kick off Slot’s European adventure strongly.
