Liverpool team news confirmed as Alexander Isak makes his debut after his £125m move from Newcastle earlier this month
18:53, 17 Sep 2025Updated 18:59, 17 Sep 2025
Alexander Isak will make his Liverpool debut against Atletico Madrid tonight(Image: DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
Alexander Isak makes his Liverpool debut against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League as Arne Slot makes three changes in total. The Reds boss brings in the £125m striker for his first appearance since joining for a British-record fee on transfer deadline day back on September 1 from Newcastle United.
Sweden international Isak has played just 18 minutes since May, which came for his national team when they were beaten 2-0 by Kosovo during the international break.
But after stepping up his fitness work last week at the AXA Training Centre, the club-record capture starts up top against Diego Simeone’s Rojiblancos.
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Elsewhere, Alexis Mac Allister drops out after picking up a minor ankle injury at Burnley following Lesley Ugochukwu’s first-half challenge.
Dominik Szoboszlai steps into midfield alongside Ryan Gravenberch having played the last three games as a right-sided full-back.
Milos Kerkez drops out at left-back with Andy Robertson starting his first game of the season, while Jeremie Frimpong returns to the side on the right, after playing his part as substitute at Turf Moor.
Netherlands international Frimpong suffered a hamstring injury in the opening game of the season, against Bournemouth over a month ago and missed the victories over Newcastle and Arsenal as a result.
Hugo Ekitike drops to the bench as a result of Isak starting, with Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo also named by Slot this evening.
Federico Chiesa is not involved having been left out of the 23-man squad for the European competition.
Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak. Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Bradley, Gomez, Endo, Ekitike, Mac Allister, Kerkez, Leoni, Danns, Ngumoha.
Atletico: Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Galan; Simeone, Barrios, Gallagher, Gonzalez; Griezmann, Raspadori. Subs: Musso, Esquivel, Ruggeri, Koke, Sorloth, Carlos Martin, Molina, Hancko, Pubil, Zanzi, Belid.