Liverpool survive Atletico Madrid scare as team gets off to 2-1 win in Champions League start

Alexis Mac Allister struck the winner as Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Wednesday, handing Andoni Iraola a winning start to his Champions League tenure at Anfield.

Mac Allister’s goal came just a day after the midfielder publicly expressed his frustration at not being offered a new contract by Liverpool.

Super Sport reports that the Argentine responded on the pitch by blasting home from the edge of the box on his weaker left foot to cap the comeback, celebrating wildly in front of the Kop.

Marcos Llorente had given Atletico an early lead after racing onto a pass from Julian Alvarez, who was making his first start of the season. It was Llorente’s fifth goal in three visits to Anfield with the Spanish side.

Dominik Szoboszlai levelled for Liverpool five minutes before half-time after Ronald Araujo’s flick teed him up to find the bottom corner.

Victory came at a cost for the Reds, however, as new signing Bradley Barcola limped off with a calf injury before the hour mark.

For the first time, three players who cost in excess of £100 million were named in the same Liverpool side, with Barcola making his Anfield debut alongside Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz in attack.

Isak went close early on after a purposeful break by Szoboszlai, while Barcola twice missed good chances to mark his debut with a goal, failing to beat Jan Oblak one-on-one and later firing wide after being played in by Wirtz.

Atletico had looked dangerous on the counter after a 3-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, but offered little after the break. Alvarez fired too close to Alisson with one of the visitors’ few clear chances, and a last-ditch challenge by Robin Le Normand denied Isak a late third.

Mac Allister had been linked with a move to Atletico during the transfer window and spoke on the eve of the match about his disappointment at contract talks stalling, while Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have agreed new deals in recent months.

The win gives Iraola his first statement result since taking charge and lifts Liverpool to a positive start in Europe despite defensive concerns and the injury to Barcola.

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