Liverpool Vs Atlético Madrid [2-1] Champions League 2026/2027: How The End-To-End Battle Fell In Andoni Iraola's Favour - Tactical Analysis

Liverpool and Atlético Madrid faced off at Anfield for the second time in consecutive opening UEFA Champions League matchdays on Wednesday.

Last time out, Arne Slot's Reds needed a last-minute Virgil van Dijk header to seal victory, despite taking a 2-0 lead in the game (it ended 3-2).

The same manager was, rather expectedly, in the dugout for Atleti in this one, with iconic figure Diego Simeone taking charge of the Madrid club for a 15th season in a row.

This time out, though, he came up against former La Liga manager and player Andoni Iraola, who was managing in the UEFA Champions League for the very first time.

While it was the first time Iraola had been involved in a Champions League game, it was to be the fifth time that Simone and the Basque manager had come up against each other.

The record leaned heavily in the Argentine's favour (although the context of one managing Atlético Madrid and the other managing Rayo Vallecano is at play here).

The game was an extremely fun one.

It was very end-to-end and full of open, attacking football (yes, Atlético have shifted in recent seasons).

It was Iraola that came out on top for the first time, with Liverpool fighting from behind to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister five minutes before and after half-time.

This Liverpool versus Atlético Madrid tactical analysis looks at how the key moments in the game were a summary of Liverpool's season so far.

Liverpool Vs Atlético Madrid Lineups & Formations

Liverpool Lineup Vs Atlético Madrid

Iraola lined up in his recognised 4-2-3-1 formation, as he has done since he took the reins at Anfield.

There were two changes from the team that beat Ipswich Town 2-0 on Friday night, both in the wing position.

One was enforced, with Cody Gakpo missing out as a precaution.

The other was tactical, with Rio Ngumoha preferred to Víctor Muñoz.

Alisson Becker started in goal, and Liverpool opted to stick with Ronald Araújo at right-back, giving the side some more defensive solidity.

Jérémy Jacquet continued to partner Van Dijk at centre-back, with Milos Kerkez at left-back.

The midfield pivot was again Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, with both preferred over Ryan Gravenberch.

New signing Bradley Barcola came in on the right wing, with Ngumoha playing off the left.

Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak continued in their No. 10 and centre-forward roles.

Atlético Madrid Lineup Vs Liverpool

Simeone set up with a back three, utilising a 3-5-2 shape.

This was in line with his usual big European away tweak, but a shift from the 4-4-2 Atlético had used five days earlier in their 3-0 defeat at Iraola's former side Athletic Club.

Jan Oblak started in goal, behind a back three of Dávid Hancko, Cristian Romero and Marc Pubill.

Giuliano Simeone and Marcos Llorente started as the wingers/wing-backs, with a double pivot of Koke and Pablo Barrios in the midfield.

Álex Baena and Lee Kang-in were in the dual No. 10s behind outcast Julián Álvarez, who was starting his first game since trying to force a move to Barcelona in the summer.

Liverpool’s Defensive Gaps: Pressing Errors And Llorente’s Goal

This game started off extremely back and forth, with both teams looking to get forward as quickly as possible and get their Champions League campaign off to a flyer.

The breakthrough came in the 17th minute, and it was the away side.

It was also Llorente, and that should come as no surprise.

He has 10 Champions League goals to his name, and five of those have come against Liverpool.

His dog is also called Anfield, in honour of his personal record at the stadium.

For Liverpool fans, it was a goal they had seen countless times last season and at the beginning of this one.

One where they concede too easily in transition, with a team that is too easily able to get through the midfield areas.

The goal comes from Atlético building up in settled possession, and Liverpool are set up absolutely fine from here.

Barcola is pressuring the man in possession, Wirtz is sitting on the deeper-lying midfielder, while Mac Allister and Szoboszlai are sitting defending the space in the middle.

Again, as Atlético move the ball up the pitch, things look fine structurally for the Reds.

Mac Allister begins to pressure the ball, and they have numerical superiority over their opponents.

This is where the initial issue comes in.

There is no real issue with the shape here, but rather with the application of pressure and choices (or lack of) that are made.

Szoboszlai is in a good position to block any pass but also move across if the man with the ball decides to try and carry it up the pitch.

Yet not enough pressure is made on the man; he's able to get into the space and into a dangerous position.

This is where the second issue is.

Kerkez has dropped far too deep and is then trying to play offside.

He gets it horribly wrong, and Llorente has a 1v1 that he puts away.

This was a concerning goal for Liverpool to concede, and had shades of the one they conceded to Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock on opening day.

A lot of the issue with this goal has to do with the timing of the pressure and the cohesion of the team.

It's something we saw develop over time at Bournemouth.

The second is the physicality and application of the midfield.

At times, it feels like there's still a hangover of the lethargic football we saw last season.

Getting that out of players will be key to any success this season.

Liverpool’s Counterattacks: Wirtz And Barcola’s Combination Play

While I wanted to highlight the issues defensively for Liverpool in transition, they also looked incredibly good in transition themselves.

Liverpool had 14 shots in the game (to Atlético's nine) and had 1.62 expected goals (to Atlético's 0.91).

The equaliser came thanks to high pressure from Kerkez, winning the ball back in the opposition half.

Yet perhaps the most eye-catching moment in the game was a miss from Barcola.

With the game at 1-1, Atlético have a set-piece and are camped in Liverpool's half.