Liverpool come from behind to secure victory over Atletico Madrid in Champions League opener

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Liverpool and Atletico Madrid kick off their 2026/27 Champions League campaigns at Anfield

Both clubs will be keen to make it all the way to the final in June, with Atletico having the additional incentive of the prospect of playing at home, given that the final will be played in their impressive 70,00 capacity Metropolitano Stadium. Liverpool also have fond memories of the stadium as it was the location of their last European Cup success in 2019, where they defeated Spurs 2-0.

It did not take long for this encounter to get going with Atletico Madrid striking first to make it 1-0 in the 17th minute through Marcos Llorente. Just ten minutes later Alvarez nearly doubled the Spaniards’ lead but Brazilian keeper Alisson prevented the great 25-yard strike from the Argentinean going into the net with a one-handed save to push the ball behind for a corner.

Liverpool picked up the pace of the match in reaction to going behind. Dominik Szoboszlai weaved through three players and slid the ball past Oblack to make it 1-1 five minutes before halftime.

Liverpool started the second half with urgency and within three minutes of the restart they should have gone ahead. Bradley Barcola went through on the keeper after a great counter-attacking move but the Frenchman narrowly sent his strike agonisingly past the keeper’s right hand post. Just two minutes later Liverpool did succeed however in gaining the lead, with the goal coming again from a midfielder. Argentinean Mac Alister scored with an exquisite finish into the top corner of the net to make it 2-1 on the night with the Liverpool crowd in red hot form.

Atletico had the majority of the possession in the final third of the match but they could not break down the Liverpool defence and prevent a fourth defeat in a row to the Reds in the Champions League.