Alexis Mac Allister fired Liverpool to a comeback victory over Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. The Argentina international midfielder struck a decisive 20-yard goal at Anfield to secure a 2-1 win after his side had fallen behind early on.
This result came as Liverpool continue their Premier League campaign sitting sixth with five points from three games. Their recent form reads WDD, having scored six goals and conceded four. They are currently four points behind the early leaders, Manchester City, in the title race.
Atlético Madrid, coached by Diego Simeone, surprised Liverpool with their aggressive 3-5-2 setup. Marcos Llorente gave the Spanish side the lead, scoring his fifth Champions League goal at Anfield. That strike extended Atlético's winless run against English clubs in this competition to 11 matches. Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola admitted his team's slow start. "I have to blame myself a bit for the start of the game," Iraola told The Guardian Football. "Atlético surprised us with the way they approached the game."
The home side regrouped after the goal and again at half-time. They found an equaliser through a combination involving Milos Kerkez, Ronald Araújo, and Dominik Szoboszlai. New signing Bradley Barcola, making his first start following a £123m move from Paris Saint-Germain, had a chance to put Liverpool ahead but shot wide. At the other end, Alisson was called into action to save a long-range effort from Atlético's Julián Álvarez, who was making his first start of the season.
The winning goal was a moment of individual brilliance and clear-headed instruction. Youngster Rio Ngumoha beat Llorente on the flank and delivered a cross into the area. Mac Allister, spotting the ball's trajectory, shouted for Szoboszlai to leave it. The midfielder then unleashed a first-time shot from the edge of the box that flew past Jan Oblak. It was a cathartic moment for a player who has expressed frustration over his contract situation at the club.
Speaking after the match, Mac Allister addressed the ongoing speculation about his future. "Very sad over Liverpool’s refusal to offer him a new contract, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch were getting theirs," he said. Despite this, the 27-year-old pledged his full commitment, stating he would give "100% to my last day" at Liverpool. His performance against Atlético was a powerful demonstration of that promise.
This Champions League win provides a positive boost as Liverpool handle the early stages of the season. The team's current standings position shows room for improvement domestically. Key contributions are coming from across the squad, including recent high-profile additions like Barcola and Florian Wirtz, who also forced a save from Oblak. Iraola successfully managed his first Champions League game as a manager, having previously coached 12 Europa League matches with AEK Larnaca back in the 2018-19 campaign.
Liverpool's next challenge is a Premier League away trip to face Sunderland on January 6, 2027. Sunderland currently sit 12th in the table. Fans can track the team's progress and view the full fixtures list on the club's official site.
Liverpool's next fixture is a Premier League home match against Fulham on September 12, according to official data. The team is on a two-game winning run following their 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid. Their recent form across all competitions reads two wins and three draws from their last five matches. Fulham, who are 19th in the table, will be without midfielder Tom Cairney due to a knee injury.
