Mac Allister Strike Completes Liverpool Comeback Against Atletico Madrid
Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 at Anfield in their opening Champions League match, with Alexis Mac Allister striking the winner five minutes after half-time.
The result gave Andoni Iraola his first home win as Liverpool manager and extended the club's unbeaten start under him to four competitive matches.
Llorente Strikes Again
Liverpool began brightly, with Alexander Isak dragging a shot wide inside the first minute after Dominik Szoboszlai carried the ball forward.
Atletico settled and took the lead in the 17th minute. Julian Alvarez slipped a pass through the Liverpool defence for Marcos Llorente, who held off Milos Kerkez and lifted his finish over Alisson Becker.
It continued a remarkable personal record for Llorente at Anfield. It was his fifth goal at the ground and his fifth in just three appearances against Liverpool. Only Robert Lewandowski against Crvena Zvezda and Cristiano Ronaldo against Ajax have scored more Champions League away goals against a single opponent.
Alisson kept the deficit at one shortly afterwards, stretching to deny a powerful effort from Alvarez in the 27th minute. At the other end Jan Oblak turned away a Florian Wirtz effort, though the move had been ruled offside.
Two Goals From Midfield
Liverpool drew level in the 40th minute. Bradley Barcola's initial shot was blocked, the hosts kept the attack alive and Ronald Araujo flicked the ball into the path of Szoboszlai, who took a touch before placing a right-footed finish into the bottom corner.
The winner arrived in the 50th minute. The ball struck Isak inside the area and rolled to Mac Allister on the edge of the box, from where the Argentine drove a low left-footed shot past Oblak.
Atletico had more of the ball as the second half progressed and applied sustained late pressure, but Liverpool held on.
Szoboszlai's goal took him to ten goal involvements in the Champions League since the start of last season, six goals and four assists, double the tally of any other Liverpool player. He has three goals and three assists in his last six European appearances at Anfield.
Barcola Injury Sours the Night
The win came at a cost. Barcola, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee that could reach £123 million, was making his first start for the club and was deployed on the right wing rather than the left. He was forced off in the 60th minute.
The injury adds to Liverpool's problems in wide areas. Cody Gakpo was already unavailable, with Rio Ngumoha coming into the side in his place.
Iraola's side have now taken two Premier League draws and a win before adding three points in Europe. The tendency to fall behind remains a concern, though the capacity to recover has become a feature of their early season.
Liverpool return to league action at the weekend, with Matchday 2 of the Champions League league phase to follow in October.
