Atletico Madrid's defeat at Anfield has reignited the debate over the team's identity. The 2-1 loss to Liverpool on 9 September, with a goal from Marcos Llorente, left the side eighth in La Liga with 7 points and exposed questions about their tactical evolution.
Diego Simeone has been in charge since December 2011, a period defined by two league titles and two Europa Leagues. His hallmark, defensive compactness and counter-attacking with two strikers, defined an era. However, Spanish experts note that "the past couple of years haven’t really been the best Simeone years at Atletico." The numbers back this up: the team has conceded over 40 goals in three of the last five La Liga seasons, something not seen since his first campaign in charge.
The style evolution
Since the 2020/21 season, Atletico have increased their average possession in La Liga, sitting between 51% and 54%. This shift towards a more dominant game coincided with the arrival of players like Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena. But the trade-off has been greater defensive fragility. They conceded 44 goals in 2023/24, a figure that rivals the 43 let in during 2021/22.
Expected Goals (xG) analysis this 2026/27 season shows a concerning trend. From the start of the campaign, the xG conceded line has risen above the creation line, a pattern first seen from December last year. Although there was improvement between February and March, the negative trend has returned.
The Anfield ghost
The match at Liverpool was a mirror of this duality. Last season, at the same ground, the team lost 3-2 to a last-minute Virgil van Dijk header after going 2-0 down in the first ten minutes. Marcos Llorente, who scored then with a deflected shot in the 81st minute, found the net again this time. "Who loves scoring at Anfield," the midfielder said. But goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister turned the score around.
This defeat comes during an inconsistent run of form. The team has two losses in its last five matches (LLWDW), including a 3-0 thrashing by Athletic Club. With 7 goals scored and 6 conceded, the goal difference is +1. The side sits five points behind leaders Barcelona.
The path forward
The squad now faces the international break with several absentees. Alexander Sørloth and Pablo Barrios are currently sidelined, limiting Simeone's options. The next fixture is key: hosting 12th-placed Osasuna on 16 September at the Metropolitano. A win is vital to correct the course before a demanding schedule.
Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page and the current lineup in the squad section. The team needs to recover its characteristic defensive solidity without abandoning the improved possession game it has sought in recent years. Simeone's challenge is to find the perfect balance.
