Liverpool’s Champions League campaign has started with a bang.

Andoni Iraola’s first match in this competition delivered the kind of drama that Liverpool-Atletico matches have consistently provided in recent seasons, with three fine goals, some fine saves and no shortage of needle.

Iraola will be relieved that his team were able to shake off Marcos Llorente’s opening goal — remarkably, his fifth at Anfield — courtesy of Dominik Szoboszlai (after a lovely backheel by Ronald Araujo) and a thunderbolt from Alexis Mac Allister, whose future has been the subject of more debate this week.

Our writers analyse the main talking points.

Has Mac Allister made his point?

Alexis Mac Allister didn’t play it safe when he faced the media ahead of the game.

He revealed that he had been “very sad” to learn in the summer that Liverpool were not prepared to offer him a new contract despite new deals being handed out to fellow midfielders Ryan Gravenberch during last season and Dominik Szoboszlai over the summer. Despite interest from elsewhere, he remained at Anfield.

If Liverpool were essentially asking Mac Allister to prove why he deserved a new contract, then scoring a thumping winner against Atletico Madrid to seal three points for Liverpool in Andoni Iraola’s first Champions League game as a head coach is a good start.

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It was completely understandable why Liverpool were not prepared to present the Argentina midfielder with new terms following a season in which he struggled to find form.

A strong individual World Cup with his national team has seen him return to Merseyside with momentum, and he has started three consecutive games under Iraola and looked much more like the version that helped Liverpool win the league in 2024-25.

Mac Allister repeatedly stated that he loved the club during his pre-match press conference and that was evident from his celebration as he ran towards The Kop. He was not afraid to let his emotions out.

If he can continue this form throughout the campaign, then Liverpool might have a decision to make.

Andy Jones

Why did Barcola have a tumultuous debut?

Some bright moments, a couple of missed chances and an early withdrawal after an injury scare; it was certainly an eventful full debut for Bradley Barcola following his arrival in a deal worth £106million (€125m) at the end of the transfer window.

Barcola arrives with a big reputation from Paris Saint-Germain and he looked determined to prove his worth, although chasing back to prevent a dangerous Atletico Madrid attack after seven minutes was probably not the start he was expecting.

The work rate was appreciated by the supporters of his new club and for the first time his song “Bradley Barcola runs down the wing for me” to the 1958 tune Heartbeat by Buddy Holly rang around Anfield.

The moment he would have been hoping for did eventually arrive just after half-time when he was sent through on goal by Florian Wirtz following a lightning-quick counter-attack, with the pair exchanging passes in the build-up. With Anfield expectant, he slid his effort beyond Jan Oblak but wide of the post.

It offered encouragement about what he can bring to the Liverpool team. His first attacking moment, after 15 minutes, saw him bring down a ball after running in behind before he was denied by Oblak from a tight angle. The Atletico goalkeeper denied him again seconds before Dominik Szoboszlai’s equaliser after he was found by Milos Kerkez.

His speed and dynamism are exactly what Liverpool’s attack lacked last season, but as he attempted another run in behind just before the hour mark, he pulled up and sat down on the ground holding the back of his left leg. He was unable to continue and was replaced by Jeremie Frimpong.

Bradley Barcola hobbles off in the second half (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

It was a concerning moment, but there was some relief for Liverpool fans when Iraola told TNT Sports afterwards that Barcola had told him he was suffering from cramp.

Liverpool will hope that’s all it is, especially with Cody Gakpo absent from the squad with an injury of his own.

Andy Jones

Was Araujo’s the best assist of the season so far?

Ronald Araujo ran off celebrating as if he had equalised for Liverpool himself.

While the man who actually made it 1-1, Dominik Szoboszlai, was retrieving the ball from the net, the Uruguay international had peeled off towards the supporters in delight — and he had every right to, given his audacious backheel had just become a contender for assist of the season so far.

After Bradley Barcola had been denied by Jan Oblak, Liverpool kept the attack alive through Florian Wirtz and then Szoboszlai. It allowed Araujo to catch up with play and he continued his run into the box.


Araujo had his back to goal and was closely attended by two Atletico defenders but, having steadied himself and without even looking at Szoboszlai, he dragged the ball with the instep of his left boot straight into the Hungarian’s path.

Szoboszlai then delivered a precise finish to bring Liverpool level.

Flicks and tricks in the opposition box are far from the first thing you would associate with the centre-back. He is known for his physicality and aggression, and supporters have already seen plenty of that in his short time on Merseyside.

His preferred position may be at the heart of a defence, but this was the 27-year-old’s second consecutive start at right-back and he is quickly solidifying a starting place in that role ahead of Jeremie Frimpong.

He backed up his impressive performance against Ipswich with another solid defensive display. While Liverpool remain a collective work in progress, he is providing additional defensive cover next to Jeremy Jacquet and Virgil van Dijk, offering Liverpool more balance.

This proved he can also contribute to Liverpool’s attacking play.

Andy Jones

How were Liverpool carved open in the first half?

The manner in which Marcos Llorente’s opener for Atletico transpired would not have pleased Andoni Iraola, even if the Spaniard needs time for his team to understand his out-of-possession demands.

The move began with a wayward Virgil van Dijk pass over a minute before the goal. Liverpool were initially disorganised but Atletico playing backwards triggered their forward press — at least partially.

While Alexander Isak and Rio Ngumoha sprinted forward, Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola remained stationary. Lee Kang-in dropped deep to receive the ball, triggering Szoboszlai to half-commit to the press before dropping back again.

Atletico went back to Jan Oblak again and, this time, Isak did not press, realising Pablo Barrios’ high positioning on the right had pinned Rio Ngumoha. Another back pass to Oblak triggered Isak, Ngumoha and Wirtz to press, but Barcola was a second late.

That not only allowed Atletico to move the ball to the retreating David Hancko on the left but also dragged Alexis Mac Allister away from the centre. Julian Alvarez duly filled that space with neither Virgil van Dijk nor Jeremy Jacquet following him.

From here, Alvarez simply dribbled past Szoboszlai before feeding Llorente. The right-back ran in the gap between Van Dijk and Milos Kerkez, who had dropped too deep while the rest of his team-mates tried to play an offside trap.

Llorente’s unerring finish took him to his fifth goal at Anfield, also the name of his pet dog due to his incredible record on the red half of Merseyside.

On multiple occasions in the first half, Liverpool’s rotations were a second too slow, and their press lacked cohesion, making it easy for Atletico to play through.

The second half saw them improve in some respects, with Jacquet more committed to following Alvarez up the pitch, and the midfielders pushing up aggressively too. That will offer Iraola some encouragement.

Anantaajith Raghuraman

What next for Liverpool?

Saturday, September 12: Fulham (Home), Premier League, 3pm BST, 10am ET