Liverpool take on the visitors Atletico Madrid in the round 1 match of UEFA Champions League group stage. The match will be played on Wednesday, September 17th at Anfiled, Liverpool.
Liverpool have spent so much that they must deliver a significant result. The Merseysiders, even with a new head coach arriving in 2024, were initially cautious about spending big under Arne Slot. Yet he went on to win the Premier League quite convincingly. It was immediately clear that this summer would require major reinforcements, even with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah signing new contracts. But they had to cover the losses of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Díaz and Diogo Jota, and there were also talks that Darwin Núñez and Caoimhín Kelleher could leave. Eventually they broke their transfer records and spent more than any other club. The newcomers alone could almost make up a starting XI: Giorgi Mamardashvili (signed in 2024 but only joined now) — Jeremie Frimpong, Assan Ouédraogo, Milos Kerkez (and they even managed to keep Marc Guéhi) — Florian Wirtz — Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak. However, not everything has gone smoothly: they lost the FA Community Shield to Crystal Palace on penalties after squandering a lead, and their first Premier League wins were snatched with last-minute goals. Yet they also managed a tight 1-0 win over Arsenal and a confident performance against Burnley in the latest round. Moreover, their attacking play has started to click, with Wirtz and Isak showing promising chemistry. If this continues, they could quickly reestablish themselves among Europe’s elite.
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Atlético Madrid have been playing under Diego Simeone for what feels like an eternity, and he has won plenty, including the La Liga title. But last season was disappointing, especially given how much they invested in new players the previous summer. They stayed close to their usual rivals for a long stretch, but eventually fell away in the league, finishing only 3rd, and also lost to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semifinals and to Real Madrid in a dramatic penalty shootout in the UEFA Champions League. Simeone not only kept his job but reshaped the squad again this summer, although without big-name signings like in 2024. They ended up starting with a limp defeat to Espanyol and a couple of draws. After the international break, they faced Villarreal, but still struggled to show consistency. Their defense looks shaky, conceding goals from set pieces, and their attack lacks creativity, with Álvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann yet to hit top form. Unless things change quickly, they risk falling out of the title race early.
Overall, Liverpool have a slight edge — four wins against three losses in ten meetings. And they’ve now beaten Atlético three times in a row. It’s hard to see things suddenly changing here. The Merseysiders look strong enough to win once again.
Prediction for the match: Liverpool to win.
