Alexis Mac Allister bolstered his case for a new Liverpool contract by scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. The result provided manager Andoni Iraola with a triumphant start to his Champions League career, despite the midfielder expressing public frustration on the eve of the match regarding the lack of a new deal offer.
The match saw a historic lineup for the hosts, as Liverpool fielded three players costing over £100 million ($135 million) simultaneously. Bradley Barcola made his Anfield debut alongside Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, though the night ended on a sour note for the French winger, who was forced off before the hour mark with a calf injury.
Atletico Madrid, looking to recover from a 3-0 weekend defeat to Athletic Bilbao, took an early lead through Marcos Llorente. The midfielder, who famously named his dog Anfield after scoring twice against the Reds in 2020, converted a pass from Julian Alvarez. This marked Llorente’s fifth goal in three appearances at the stadium.
Liverpool responded with intensity, though they were initially frustrated by Jan Oblak. Barcola missed two significant opportunities to score, including one where he failed to beat the Slovenian goalkeeper and another where he fired wide following a pass from Wirtz. Alisson Becker also played a crucial role, producing a brilliant save to deny a long-range effort from Alvarez.
The equalizer arrived in the 40th minute when Ronald Araujo flicked the ball into the path of Dominik Szoboszlai, who slotted his shot into the bottom corner. The momentum shifted decisively in the second half when Mac Allister, who had been linked with a move to Atletico during the transfer window, struck a powerful shot from outside the box with his weaker left foot to seal the comeback.
While the visitors struggled to find an answer, Alvarez forced a save from Alisson with one of their few late chances. At the other end, a last-ditch challenge from Robin Le Normand prevented Isak from extending Liverpool’s lead. Ultimately, the victory served as a significant statement for Iraola, who managed his side’s defensive transition effectively to secure the win.
The match also highlighted the contrasting contract situations within the Liverpool squad. While Mac Allister remains in limbo, teammates Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai have both secured new deals in recent months. Despite the off-field tension, Mac Allister’s celebration in front of the Kop underscored his commitment to the team’s immediate success.
The defeat adds pressure on Diego Simeone, whose squad has endured an underwhelming start to the season. For Atletico, the focus remains on integrating Alvarez, whose desire for a move to Barcelona was rejected by the club’s hierarchy, creating a lingering distraction for the team. The report also notes that the Reds left themselves wide open to the counter-attack, but in their desperation to pour forward. The report also notes that llorente, who named his dog Anfield after scoring twice in Atletico’s last 16 win over Liverpool in 2020, raced onto Alvarez’s pass to score his fifth goal in three visits to Anfield with the Spanish side. The report also notes that who could cost up to £123 million, failed to squeeze the ball past Jan Oblak with just the giant Slovenian to beat, the French winger. The report also notes that however, Liverpool kept the attack alive and Ronald Araujo’s flick teed up Szoboszlai to find the bottom corner on 40 minutes. The report also notes that again, though, the reprieve was brief for the visitors.
