Liverpool defeats Atletico Madrid in Champions League opener

Liverpool secured a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield during the opening match of the Champions League League Phase on September 9, 2026. This match marked the debut of Andoni Iraola in the tournament as Liverpool's manager. Atletico Madrid opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Marcos Llorente converted a pass from Julian Alvarez. Liverpool equalized in the 40th minute through a strike by Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister completed the comeback with a goal in the 49th minute.

This win establishes a historic milestone, as Liverpool becomes the first team in Champions League history to defeat Atletico Madrid in four consecutive tournament matches. This winning streak against Diego Simeone's side began in the 2021-22 season and continued through the 2025-26 campaign. Despite defensive adjustments by Simeone after conceding the second goal, Liverpool maintained control of the game and successfully defended their lead to secure the three points.