The road to Madrid 2027 begins this week with Matchday 1 of the 72nd European Cup and the 35th season of the UEFA Champions League era.
Fans have a feast of soccer ahead, with six games played on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. With every game broadcast live on television and the best streaming apps, it promises to be something special.
Our betting partners offer a long list of markets on every matchup, allowing bettors to back their favorite as a single, build a midweek parlay or shoot for a big payout using a Bet Builder.
Need help finding the value? Keep reading as our in-form betting expert Frank Monkhouse takes you through his Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Champions League predictions.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid betting tips
Liverpool win or draw: -550 (FanDuel) | -500 (BetMGM)
Both teams to score: -166 (FanDuel) | -167 (BetMGM)
Wirtz to score: +300 (FanDuel) | +310 (BetMGM)
The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.
Double chance: Liverpool win or draw
The first of my Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Champions League predictions is Liverpool in the double-chance market.
Bettors will secure a profit if Liverpool wins or the game ends in a draw. As the name of the betting market suggests, you have two chances to beat the sportsbook.
The head-to-head stats available on the Flashscore app show that Liverpool and Atletico Madrid have met nine times before. The Reds have four wins, compared with three for the Spaniards, while two games ended in a draw.
Interestingly, three of Liverpool's four wins have come in the previous three meetings. The Reds won 3-2 in Spain, 2-0 at Anfield, before earning a memorable 3-2 win at this stadium 12 months ago.
There's more for the home fans to get excited about.
The UCL stats tell us that Liverpool have never lost their first game of a Champions League campaign when playing in front of a home crowd. During that 12-game stretch, Liverpool have 10 wins and two draws.
With that in mind, I'm picking Liverpool to get off to a flying start, just as they did at this venue last September against the same opponent. Goals from Robertson, Salah, and Van Dijk beat a double from Llorente that time.
Liverpool win or draw: -550 (FanDuel) | -500 (BetMGM)
Bet explanation: If Liverpool avoid a home loss against Atletico Madrid, this wager wins.
Both teams to score: Yes
Moving away from picking a side, my second Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid prediction is on both teams to score.
When selecting "Yes" in the BTTS market, the winning team and scorers aren't important. All you're interested in is Liverpool and Atletico Madrid scoring at least one goal each. Another 3-2 win for the home team pays the same as a 1-1 draw or a 4-1 away win.
Returning to the head-to-head record, a bet on both teams to score has landed in six of the nine meetings, including three of the last five. Liverpool have hosted Atletico Madrid five times at Anfield, and both clubs scored in all but one of those games. That's a stat worth following.
Liverpool have played three Premier League games in the new season, scoring two goals in each. The Spanish LaLiga season is four games old, with Atletico Madrid scoring seven goals but conceding six.
Add both teams to score in the Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid game to your midweek Champions League parlays and multiples. It will also be a popular play with bettors building Bet Builders and looking for a strong payout from a small wager.
Both teams to score: -166 (FanDuel) | -167 (BetMGM)
Bet explanation: Liverpool and Atletico Madrid must score at least one goal each in this UCL opener.
To score: Florian Wirtz
Looking for a bet at higher odds? I've got you covered with my third and final Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid prediction.
Liverpool's No. 7, Florian Wirtz, has a strong attacking record in this tournament. The Opta stats show that the German averaged 3.2 chances per 90 minutes of Champions League soccer. I'm picking the 23-year-old to score on Wednesday under the bright lights at Anfield.
Wirtz arrives fit, sharp, and ready for action. He has already featured against Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, and Ipswich Town in the Premier League this season.
Looking at his numbers from the previous campaign, we see Wirtz made 60 appearances for club and country, scoring 11 goals. That includes a goal in Liverpool's stunning 6-0 Champions League victory at this stadium over Qarabag earlier this year.
I expect to see plenty of chances created on Wednesday. Both teams believe they can get off to a winning start and collect all three points at the earliest opportunity. That should make for an open and exciting game.
In their most recent home game, Liverpool had 69% possession and created 13 shots at goal. What will frustrate head coach Andoni Iraola is that his team put just four shots on target. Everyone connected to the home locker room knows much more will be required if they are to beat the Spanish team.
I expect Liverpool to be fitter, sharper, and more convincing in the final third than they were the last time they played at Anfield. Wirtz will play an important role in getting his team into advanced areas.
Wirtz to score: +300 (FanDuel) | +310 (BetMGM)
Bet explanation: To win this bet, Florian Wirtz must score.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid betting odds
Liverpool to win: -150 (FanDuel) | -143 (BetMGM)
Draw: +300 (FanDuel) | +300 (BetMGM)
Atletico Madrid to win: +350 (FanDuel) | +360 (BetMGM)