Liverpool venció 2-1 al Atlético de Madrid

Liverpool overturned an early deficit to defeat Atlético de Madrid 2-1 at Anfield on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, securing three points in their opening match of the UEFA Champions League 2026-27 league phase. The victory followed a tense encounter where the English side had to recover from a first-half blow to claim a win in front of their home crowd.

The match began with Atlético de Madrid taking an early lead in the 16th or 17th minute. Marcos Llorente scored the opening goal after a precise, filtered pass from Julián Álvarez left the Spaniard one-on-one with goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who was unable to stop the left-footed finish. According to Americatv, Llorente has a special history at Anfield, a factor that preceded his goal to put the visitors ahead 1-0.

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Liverpool struggled for clarity in the final meters of the opponent's area during the first ten minutes, while Atlético focused on recovering the ball to launch counterattacks. The momentum shifted shortly before the end of the first half. In the 39th or 40th minute, Dominik Szoboszlai equalized for Liverpool after receiving a "surreal" back-heel assist from Ronald Araújo, according to Mdzol.

Match Analysis

The second half saw Liverpool exploit growing spaces in the Atlético defense. While Barcola missed a clear one-on-one opportunity and subsequently suffered an injury, the pressure eventually paid off. In the 49th or 50th minute, Alexis Mac Allister struck a powerful left-footed shot from medium distance to make it 2-1. Larepublica reports that the goal was met with an ovation from the Anfield crowd.

The goal carried personal weight for Mac Allister. Before the match, the Argentine midfielder had expressed resentment toward his club for not renewing his contract while renewing those of his teammates in the midfield. After scoring, he pointed to his chest, stating "Acá estoy yo" (Here I am), as reported by mdzol.com.

Atlético de Madrid attempted a late miracle during stoppage time. Frimpong scored what would have been a third goal for Liverpool following a pass from Muñóz in the 88th minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside. The result left Diego Simeone's team with a difficult European debut, while Liverpool entered the competition with maximum points.

Future Ramifications

For Liverpool, the win marks a positive turn after a shaky start to the Premier League season, where they recorded two draws before a recent 0-2 away victory against Ipswich. The "Reds" now look to build this momentum as they navigate the league phase of the tournament.

Atlético de Madrid faces a challenging road to the top eight. The club had entered this match amidst internal friction regarding the continuity of Julián Álvarez, though the club has since reaffirmed that the possibility of the Argentine moving to Barcelona is 0%.

The victory serves as a catalyst for a Liverpool squad that features new combinations under the guidance of Andoni Iraola, including players like Isak, Wirtz, and Barcola. For the "Colchonero," the loss is a setback following a recent defeat in their visit to Athletic, despite having a strong Argentine presence in the starting lineup with Cristian Romero, Giuliano Simeone, and Julián Álvarez.

Liverpool will seek to maintain this winning streak when they face LASK on Wednesday, September 14, at 13:45. Meanwhile, Atlético de Madrid is scheduled to host Manchester United on Tuesday, September 13, at 16:00.