Liverpool come from behind to beat Atlético Madrid and open their Champions League campaign with a win

Liverpool 2 x 1 Atlético de Madrid: Reds come from behind at Anfield to open the Champions League with a win

Liverpool began their 2026/27 Champions League campaign with a statement win at Anfield. On Wednesday, September 9, the Reds beat Atlético de Madrid 2-1, coming from behind in a match played in the opening round of the league phase. Marcos Llorente put the visitors ahead, but Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister turned the game around and secured three points for Andoni Iraola’s side.

It was also Iraola’s first Champions League match as Liverpool manager. Diego Simeone’s Atlético controlled long spells of the game and finished with more possession, but the English side were more aggressive in the decisive areas: they had 14 shots to the visitors’ nine and generated greater attacking threat, particularly inside the box.

First half

Liverpool started by trying to impose their intensity from the opening minutes. In the 14th minute, the hosts attacked down the right and forced Jan Oblak into a save. Atlético, however, quickly showed they had no intention of simply sitting back and absorbing the pressure at Anfield.

Two minutes later, Julián Álvarez found an excellent pass between Liverpool’s defenders for Marcos Llorente. The midfielder attacked the space, went one-on-one with Alisson and finished calmly to open the scoring.

0-1 Atlético de Madrid.

The goal exposed one of Liverpool’s problems during the first half: whenever Atlético managed to beat the initial press, they found space to attack the defensive line. Álvarez, in particular, operated between the lines and provided a reference point to accelerate their transitions. Llorente’s goal was the direct result of one of those combinations.

Marcos Llorente reaches 5 goals at Anfield and becomes the visiting player with the most goals, overtaking Karim Benzema.

Liverpool tried to respond. In the 22nd minute, Rio Ngumoha produced a good move down the left, but Marcos Llorente tracked back to win the ball and concede a corner.

Four minutes later, Atlético threatened again. Simeone found Álvarez in a good position, and the Argentine cut inside before trying his luck from distance. Alisson had to make an excellent save to keep Atlético from doubling their lead.

The game was beginning to open up.

In the 29th minute, Liverpool created a good chance down the right. Barcola was dispossessed, but the ball fell to Alexander Isak, who delivered a cross into the box. Florian Wirtz arrived to finish, and Oblak made a good save. The move, however, was eventually stopped for offside.

Then, in the 39th minute, came the response Anfield had been waiting for.

Miloš Kerkez won the ball in a central area and found Isak on the right side of the box. The Swede took the shot, Oblak saved, and on the rebound, Dominik Szoboszlai carried the ball forward before finding Ronald Araújo inside the box. The defender produced a spectacular backheel to return the ball to the midfielder.

Szoboszlai took control and finished.

1-1.

The equaliser completely changed the mood at Anfield. Liverpool had found a way to turn a spell of pressure into a goal just when Atlético looked comfortable.

And Szoboszlai’s influence went well beyond the goal. The Hungarian was the driving force behind Liverpool’s response, contributing to the build-up, carrying the ball and finding pockets of space between the lines.

Before the break, in the 41st minute, Atlético still had a good opportunity. Barrios won the ball, drove forward and crossed for Álex Baena, who struck first time but sent his effort wide.

The scores were level at the break.

Second half

Liverpool came out for the second half with a different approach.

In the 48th minute, the Reds won the ball and broke forward quickly. Wirtz found Barcola, who went through on goal against Oblak and fired wide. It was very close.

It was a warning that the second half could be different.

One minute later, Liverpool completed the comeback.

Ngumoha produced a good move down the left and tried to put the ball into the box. Atlético’s defence only partially cleared it, and the loose ball fell to the edge of the area. Alexis Mac Allister arrived onto it and struck with his left foot, hard and precise, giving Oblak no chance.

2-1 Liverpool.

The goal came just five minutes after the restart and completed a comeback built between the end of the first half and the opening minutes of the second.

Liverpool then began to manage the spaces better. Atlético continued to have the ball and circulate possession through midfield, but they found it increasingly difficult to turn that possession into genuinely dangerous chances.

In the 60th minute, Barcola went off after picking up a physical problem. The Frenchman had played an important role in Liverpool’s attacking movement, although he had also missed chances that could have made the victory more comfortable.

In the 68th minute, Atlético found Álvarez inside the box. The Argentine forward got his shot away, but Alisson was there again to make the save.

Liverpool, meanwhile, continued to find ways to threaten.

In the 78th minute, Gravenberch won the ball and found Wirtz. The German played in Isak, who cut inside and shot. Robin Le Normand produced a timely block to deny him and send the ball behind for a corner.

Atlético pushed forward more in the closing stages, but Liverpool’s defence managed to protect the central areas well and limit the visitors’ best opportunities. The numbers help explain the contrast: Atlético finished with 55% possession, but Liverpool had the edge in xG, with 1.62 to 0.91, as well as 33 touches in the opposition box compared with 18 for the Spanish side.

In the 88th minute, Liverpool thought they had scored a third.

Víctor Muñoz received the ball, cut inside past his defender and shot. Oblak made a great save, but on the rebound, Frimpong found the back of the net. The flag, however, went up immediately: offside, and the goal was ruled out.

Atlético still had hope in the final minutes, but Liverpool managed to see out the five minutes of added time and secure the win.

Full time at Anfield: Liverpool 2 x 1 Atlético de Madrid.

Dominik Szoboszlai — Man of the Match — 5 key passes, 1 big chance created and 1 goal scored. — Sofascore Rating: 8.4

What remains

Andoni Iraola’s first Champions League night in charge of Liverpool was not perfect — but it could hardly have been more important.

The Reds had to respond to an Atlético side that started well, knew how to exploit the space behind the defence and had Julián Álvarez as an important link between midfield and attack. After Llorente’s goal, however, Liverpool found another level of intensity and began attacking the most dangerous areas of the pitch more frequently.

The most interesting detail of the game is precisely that: Atlético had more possession, completed more passes and controlled important spells of the match, but Liverpool were more dangerous where it really mattered. The Reds had 14 shots to nine, with 12 efforts from inside the box compared with just four for the Spanish side, and recorded 31 touches in the opposition box.

It was a win built on efficiency, but also on the ability to accelerate the game at the right moments.

Szoboszlai was the great symbol of Liverpool’s comeback. His equaliser brought the Reds back into the game, but his performance went far beyond the finish. The Hungarian finished as the player with the most touches, key passes and dribbles on the pitch, while also leading the team in ball progression.

For Atlético, it feels like a missed opportunity. Simeone found ways to trouble Liverpool and his side controlled large spells of the game, but they failed to turn that control into a greater presence inside the box. Atlético finished with just four shots from inside the area and were caught offside five times.

For Iraola, though, the result was what mattered most.

Liverpool begin their new Champions League campaign with three points, a comeback at Anfield and confirmation that their new project can survive different types of matches.

It will not always be possible to dominate the game; sometimes, you have to know how to respond to it.

Against Atlético, the Reds did exactly that.