It was the time and place for Alexis Mac Allister to do his talking on the pitch and the disgruntled Liverpool midfielder delivered on cue. “Very sad” over Liverpool’s refusal to offer him a new contract, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch were getting theirs, Mac Allister made Anfield very happy with a match-winning display against Atlético Madrid.
The Argentina international, one of five World Cup finalists involved in an absorbing, delicately-poised contest, vented his frustrations in the best possible and most professional way – from behind an immaculate 20-yard strike into Jan Oblak’s goal rather than a microphone. Mac Allister believes he is playing for a new deal this season and promised to give “100% to my last day” at the pre-match press conference. He was true to his word to extend Atlético’s winless sequence against English opposition in the Champions League league phase to 11 matches.
For Andoni Iraola, it was the perfect start to life as a Champions League coach after an imperfect start to the game. Diego Simeone’s switch to a 3-5-2 formation caught Liverpool cold and it was only when they regrouped in the aftermath of Marcos Llorente’s latest Anfield goal, and again during the half-time interval, that their performance level improved. Mac Allister’s timely moment, Alexander Isak’s relentless industry, Florian Wirtz’s creativity and another performance of drive and intelligence from Szoboszlai ensured the Liverpool head coach had plenty to savour.
“I have to blame myself a bit for the start of the game,” Iraola said. “Atlético surprised us with the way they approached the game. They haven’t used that system too much this season and it’s difficult if you are not ready for it, but we adjusted and played better. In the second half we were the best team. We came back for the third time [this season] and that showed the players are pushing and they have character.”
It was a night of firsts. Iraola coached a Champions League game for the first time in his career – he did take charge of 12 Europa League matches with AEK Larnaca in 2018-19 – Bradley Barcola made his first Liverpool start following a £123m move from Paris Saint-Germain and Julián Álvarez was in Atlético’s starting lineup for the first time this season since his failed attempt to join Barcelona. All appeared to have been forgiven – for now at least – as his name was cheered by the small pocket of Atlético fans when the teams were announced before kick-off and he repaid them by creating the opening goal.
Llorente was the scourge of Anfield yet again when Álvarez threaded a pass behind the home defence and the right wing-back raced clear on goal. The man who named his dog Anfield after scoring twice to eliminate Jürgen Klopp’s team from the competition in 2020, in the game played while Madrid was in lockdown from the Covid pandemic, lofted a confident finish beyond Alisson. It was Llorente’s fifth goal at Anfield, half of his entire total of Champions League goals. He had been kept onside by Milos Kerkez, who endured a poor night with his positioning and distribution before atoning with a key role in Liverpool’s equaliser.
Álvarez almost doubled the visitors’ lead when granted far too much time and space to take aim from almost 30 yards. Alisson, at full stretch, intervened with a superb finger-tip save. Anfield was growing restless at Liverpool’s carelessness on the ball and Atlético’s comfort on it. But the threat and control from the hosts increased.
Wirtz drew a fine save from Oblak at the end of a flowing move involving Barcola and Isak. Liverpool then drew level thanks to tenacity from Kerkez, a lovely touch from Ronald Araújo and Szoboszlai’s instinctive finish. The left-back won possession with a clean, crunching challenge on Lee Kang-in before finding Barcola. The France international was denied a goal on his full debut by Oblak’s low save but Wirtz kept the pressure on and Szoboszlai, having been halted on the edge of the area, got a second bite from Araújo’s clever flick. The midfielder’s first time shot sailed into the far corner.
Barcola should have put Liverpool ahead when played through on goal by Wirtz early in the second half. The winger had time to measure the finish but pulled it wide of Oblak’s right-hand post. He would later depart with cramp. Liverpool were ahead one minute later when the lively Rio Ngumoha beat Llorente and his cross fell to Mac Allister via a deflection off Isak. Mac Allister told Szoboszlai to leave the ball and drilled home an unstoppable left-footed drive from 20 yards. Atlético remained dangerous and the introduction of Ademola Lookman added an extra dimension to the visitors’ attack but Liverpool defended impressively to secure a deserved victory.
