Atlético de Madrid – Liverpool FC

Liverpool FC - Atlético de Madrid, 9 Sep 2026

On 9 September 2026, Liverpool FC hosted Atlético de Madrid at Anfield in the opening matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase. The home side secured a 2–1 victory, claiming their first three points in the new competition format. The match was attended by 53,394 spectators.

Atlético de Madrid took the lead in the 17th minute through Marcos Llorente, who capitalised on a defensive error and finished past Alisson Becker. It was the Spaniard's fifth goal at Anfield in the Champions League.

Liverpool FC equalised in the 40th minute through Dominik Szoboszlai, who found the net with a right-footed strike after a pass from Ronald Araújo. It was the Hungarian midfielder's first Champions League goal of the season.

The decisive goal came in the 50th minute, as Alexis Mac Allister powered home a left-footed shot from distance to beat Jan Oblak. The Argentine midfielder sealed the victory for Liverpool in new manager Andoni Iraola's first Champions League match in charge.

The 2–1 result gave Liverpool FC a winning start to their Champions League campaign. The hosts came from behind after Atlético de Madrid took the lead in the first half.

Liverpool FC - Atlético de Madrid, 17 Sep 2025

The match played on 17 September 2025 at Anfield in Liverpool was the opening fixture of the 2025/26 Champions League league phase and immediately delivered unforgettable drama for the fans. Liverpool FC hosted Atlético Madrid in a clash that ended with a dramatic 3-2 victory for the hosts thanks to a stoppage-time winner. Arne Slot's men started the game in brilliant fashion and took the lead as early as the fourth minute through Andy Robertson, who capitalised on a cross from Mohamed Salah's free-kick. Two minutes later, the Egyptian star got on the scoresheet himself, finishing off a quick exchange with Ryan Gravenberch and beating Jan Oblak with a precise shot from a tight angle.

It seemed that Liverpool were cruising towards three points, but Atlético had no intention of giving up. Just before halftime, in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Marcos Llorente reduced the deficit to one goal, converting a pass from Giacomo Raspadori. The second half brought further excitement, and in the 81st minute Llorente completed his brace to level the match at 2-2, meaning the Spanish side had managed to come back from a two-goal disadvantage. The game appeared to be heading for a draw, but in the second minute of added time Virgil van Dijk rose highest to meet a corner delivered by Dominik Szoboszlai and headed home to secure a 3-2 victory for Liverpool.

This was a typical finish for Arne Slot's side, as Liverpool had repeatedly snatched points in recent weeks thanks to late goals. The win gave the hosts a perfect start to the new Champions League campaign and three points to open their league-phase account. For Atlético Madrid, it was a painful lesson, as Diego Simeone's team performed very solidly and managed to fight their way back into the match from a difficult position, but ultimately had to concede defeat in the dying moments.