0 points, 0 games: Liverpool and Atletico begin their Champions League campaigns

Liverpool and Atletico Madrid start today’s UEFA Champions League League Stage with both clubs on 0 points from 0 games. The meeting at Anfield kicks off at 19:00 UTC, with D. Massa appointed referee.

What's at stake

Liverpool are ranked eighth and Atletico Madrid 20th, but neither has established an advantage after the opening round has yet to produce a result for either side. Manchester City lead with 3 points, leaving both teams 3 points behind before today’s match; a win would put the victor on the board, while a defeat would leave the loser without points after its first fixture.

The numbers

There is no recent-form data for either team, and the season figures are equally blank: Liverpool are 0W-0D-0L at home with 0 goals scored, 0 conceded and 0 clean sheets, while Atletico have the same 0W-0D-0L record away. Overall, Liverpool have played 0 matches and scored 0 goals; Atletico also have 0 games and 0 goals.

One to watch

With no scorer chart or confirmed lineups supplied, the personnel picture is shaped by absences. Liverpool list C. Bradley, F. Chiesa, H. Ekitike, W. Endo, J. Gomez and G. Leoni as unavailable, while Atletico list A. Ortiz through a red card and A. Sorloth with a muscle injury. How the two teams compensate for those missing options is the clearest tactical question at Anfield.

Why it matters

Liverpool can use home advantage at Anfield to open their account and close the three-point gap to Manchester City, while Atletico need a result to avoid starting the league stage from 0 points after their first fixture. With both clubs still carrying 0 in every recorded season column, today’s 19:00 UTC match is their first chance to define the campaign’s table position.