Liverpool begin their 2026-27 Champions League campaign at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, a repeat of last year\u2019s opening League Phase fixture, which the Reds won 3-2 courtesy of a stoppage-time Virgil van Dijk<\/a> header. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Andoni Iraola takes charge of his first Champions League match since succeeding Arne Slot, hoping to build on Liverpool\u2019s first win of the season. Liverpool\u2019s start under Iraola has been mixed, with back-to-back 2-2 draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest preceding Friday\u2019s 2-0 win at Ipswich Town, in which Alexander Isak scored twice inside the opening nine minutes. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n New \u00a3123m signing Bradley Barcola, a two-time Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain, is in line for his first Liverpool start. Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, arrive on the back of a 3-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao that ended their unbeaten start to the La Liga<\/a> season, a result Diego Simeone described as \u201ca real wake-up call.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo have been left out of Liverpool\u2019s Champions League squad entirely, while Hugo Ekitike (Achilles), Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni (both knee) remain sidelined through injury. Joe Gomez is also a doubt with a muscle issue, meaning Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet are set to continue as the first-choice centre-back pairing. New signing Bradley Barcola is in contention to make his full debut on the wing, potentially at the expense of Victor Munoz, with Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz also expected to start further forward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Alexander Sorloth is expected to miss out with a thigh injury, and Arnau Ortiz remains suspended following a red card picked up on loan at Slask Wroclaw in August 2024. Diego Simeone faces a decision over Julian Alvarez, who could return to the starting XI after coming off the bench against Athletic Bilbao, with new signing Jonathan David also in contention to lead the line. Cristian Romero is hoping to make his full Atletico debut at centre-back, while club captain Koke could come into midfield in place of Morten Hjulmand or Pablo Barrios.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Liverpool have scored in each of their last nine competitive matches, netting at least twice in six of those games, since their Champions League exit to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in April. Andoni Iraola\u2019s side drew their opening two Premier League fixtures before finally winning at Ipswich last time out, and they have also won their last six League Phase meetings with Spanish opposition. Liverpool have kept four clean sheets in their last five games against Spanish sides in the competition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Atletico Madrid\u2019s unbeaten start to the season ended with Saturday\u2019s 3-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao, a result that left them having conceded six second-half goals across their last three matches. They have, however, failed to score in only two of their last 24 League Phase or group-stage matches, and have found the net in four of their previous five visits to Anfield. Diego Simeone\u2019s side have never beaten English opposition in the Champions League group stage or League Phase, losing six and drawing four of their 10 previous attempts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Liverpool predicted XI:<\/strong> Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Barcola, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Atletico Madrid predicted XI:<\/strong> Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Romero, Grimaldo; Koke, Hjulmand; Simeone, Baena, Lookman; David<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with streaming available via HBO Max.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Read more \u2013\u00a0Chelsea duo ruled out as Alonso delivers injury update<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\nLiverpool vs Atletico Madrid \u2013 Match preview and team news<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Team news<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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How to watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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