Liverpool Vs Atlético Madrid [3-2] Champions League 2025/2026: Another Late Winner Masks LFC Defensive Concerns – Tactical Analysis

Wednesday night saw yet another stoppage-time winner for Arne Slot’s Liverpool. 

Virgil van Dijk’s 92nd-minute goal gave Liverpool their fifth straight win, with four of those wins coming via stoppage-time goals. 

Liverpool went two goals ahead in the first six minutes, thanks to a couple of fortunate bounces from Salah. 

Diego Simeone’s side did not quit despite the early deficit and clawed their way back into the match with two goals from Marcos Llorente. 

It was yet another match where Arne Slot’s team tossed away a two-goal advantage, which is very concerning for the Reds. 

In the end, it’s three points for Liverpool, but Atlético Madrid gave them everything they could handle. 

In this Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid tactical analysis article, we will examine Atlético Madrid’s build-up against Liverpool’s high press, how Liverpool set up tactically with Alexander Isak in the lineup, and how Atlético Madrid erased Liverpool’s 2-0 lead. 

Liverpool Vs Atlético Madrid Lineups & Formations

Liverpool came out in Arne Slot’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. 

Alisson occupied his usual spot in goal behind Liverpool’s main centre-back pairing, Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk. 

Andy Robertson got his first start of the season at left-back, while Jeremie Frimpong returned from injury to start at right-back. 

For the first time this season, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch started together as the double pivot in midfield. 

Florian Wirtz occupied his usual spot at the number ‘10’. 

Mo Salah started at right wing, while Cody Gakpo started at left wing. 

Alexander Isak got his first start up top as Liverpool’s number nine since transferring from Newcastle United. 

Arne Slot made five substitutions in the match. 

In the 58th minute, he made a triple substitution, bringing on Alexis Mac Allister for Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike for Alexander Isak, and Conor Bradley for Jeremie Frimpong. 

Diego Simeone lined up Atlético Madrid in their fourth straight match in their preferred 4-4-2 formation. 

Jan Oblak started in goal for Atlético Madrid, behind Robin Le Normand and Clément Lenglet, who were the centre-back pairing for the third straight match.

Marcos Llorente started at right-back, while Javi Galán got his first start of the season at left-back. 

Conor Gallagher and Pablo Barrios started as the two central midfielders, while Nicolás González started as the left midfielder, with Giuliano Simeone starting as the right midfielder. 

Antoine Griezmann started up top alongside Giacomo Raspadori, who was making his debut for Atlético Madrid. 

Diego Simeone made four substitutions on Wednesday night. 

Koke came on for Giacomo Raspadori in the 53rd minute. 

In the 61st minute, Alexander Sørloth replaced Antoine Griezmann, and Nahuel Molina replaced Conor Gallagher. 

The final substitution came in the 77th minute when Marc Pubill came on for Nicolás González. 

Atletico Madrid Build Up Vs Liverpool Press

Liverpool forced seven high turnovers and 32 danger zone losses in this match.

That may sound like a lot, but Atlético Madrid did still cause some trouble for the Reds when building out from the back. 

One method that Diego Simeone had was to constantly drop both forwards in deep. 

From this scenario, you can see that Raspadori and Griezmann are both looking to get on the ball with the sole aim of getting it out wide, where Atlético Madrid have a numerical advantage. 

This is a common pattern for Diego Simeone, who is a big believer in these types of wide overload and positional rotations. 

Throughout this match, Griezmann drifted out wide to the left wing position because Simeone wanted to exploit Jeremie Frimpong, who is not the best defensive full-back when isolated 1-v-1.

When Atlético Madrid got to the final third, Llorente pushed up to the half-space, while Raspadori and Griezmann were both in the right half-space to create an overload.

These types of overloads aimed to eventually get the ball out wide to send in a cross.

Atlético Madrid attempted 25 crosses into the penalty area in this match, but only completed two of them. 

There were so many scenarios in which Atlético Madrid were able to play through Liverpool by simply overloading the Reds during the first phase of the build-up. 

You can see here Atlético Madrid have a five man overload.

Because they had a numerical advantage against Liverpool, they could free up space to pass to Griezmann, who could then pass it out wide to Javi Galán.

While they did have quite a few turnovers, Diego Simeone’s side was more often than not able to initially play the ball centrally and then pass it out wide to attack Liverpool down the flanks.

Alexander Isak In Arne Slot Liverpool Tactics

This was Alexander Isak’s first start in a Liverpool shirt, and he seems to fit this team a little bit better than Hugo Ekitike.

Hugo Ekitike’s problem is that he constantly wants to drop in, receive the ball, and drive right at defenders.

He wants to drop into the left half space, which is also the area of the pitch that Florian Wirtz is most comfortable playing.

What you get is a situation like this against Burnley, where a number of different players try to occupy the same space, but nobody actually attacks the defensive line.

While Isak is perfectly comfortable dropping in, he would rather play around the 18-yard box and make runs off the shoulder of the last defender.

There were plenty of instances where Isak was able to get on the ball and create for others, but never really got a decent chance on net.

He was subbed off in the 58th minute after only taking two shots and having four touches in the penalty area.

Atlético Madrid Comeback

Diego Simeone’s men fought hard to get back into this match.

The build-up worked, allowing them to get into Liverpool’s final third.

Liverpool also had some pretty bad defensive lapses, and the first goal was a good example of that.

Szoboszlai tries to pass the runner to Gakpo or Robertson, but both are fixated on the ball carrier, which creates space behind them.

Once the ball is played in behind, Atletico have a 4-v-3 advantage on Liverpool’s backline, and Llorente is able to slot it home.

In a situation like this, it is concerning that it takes only one ball in behind to create a numerical advantage.

It also highlights how much pressure Liverpool put on their centre-back pairing to clean everything up.

A good example of that is what happened about 10 minutes before Llorente’s second goal.

Atlético Madrid threw it in from the left side of the pitch and switched the play to the other side.

Liverpool were slow in getting back into their defensive positions, and Llorente is able to dribble all the way from here:

To here, which forces Konaté to come out and block the shot.

In the second half, there were a couple of other instances where a lack of ball pressure allowed Atlético Madrid to free crosses or passes into the penalty area.

Arne Slot has to address this to elevate his current Reds side to the necessary level.

Conclusion

The Van Dijk header at the end secured three points for Liverpool, and although it came in stoppage time, Liverpool deserved to win this match.

In the end, Liverpool had 42 touches in the penalty area to Atlético Madrid’s 25, generating 2.7 expected goals to Atleti’s 0.6, outshooting Atlético 20 to 10.

That was Liverpool’s fourth stoppage-time winner, which I consider luck in some aspects, but in other aspects, it’s not.

When Liverpool forces their opponent to either defend in a low defensive block for a majority of the match, like Burnley, or they get a lead and the opponent has to expend so much energy to try and get back into the game, there can be some mental or physical lapses towards the end of matches.

With that being said, this is now the third time this season that Liverpool have tossed away a two-goal lead like it’s no big deal.

For context, Arsenal, their biggest challengers in the Premier League title race, have only blown a two-goal lead once since 2019.

Liverpool, under Arne Slot since the beginning of last season, have allowed 1.47 xG per 90 minutes when playing with a lead, which is concerning.

Atlético Madrid certainly didn’t expect to be down 2-0 inside six minutes, which, I am sure, threw a couple of Diego Simeone’s tactical plans out the window.

The Spanish side, though, showed resilience by continuing to try to control possession and patiently build out of the back with success.

In many ways, Atlético Madrid was fortunate to tie this match at two after Llorente’s incredible volley, which took a deflection into the back of the net.

However, Liverpool’s repeated pattern needs to be addressed.

They cannot shut down matches the way elite out-of-possession sides can.

Liverpool now have to turn the page to the Merseyside Derby against Everton, while Atleti have a trip to the island of Mallorca.