NewzAlexis Mac Allister celebrates with Liverpool fans after scoring the second goal against Atletico Madrid at Anfield. (EPA Images pic)LIVERPOOL: Alexis Mac Allister did his case for an improved Liverpool contract no harm with the winner as Andoni Iraola got off to a winning Champions League start by beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Wednesday.Mac Allister expressed his frustration at not being offered a new deal on the eve of the match, but responded by blasting home from the edge of the box to cap Liverpool's comeback.Marcos Llorente had given Atletico an early lead before Dominik Szoboszlai levelled before half-time.Victory came at a cost for the Reds, though, as new signing Bradley Barcola limped off with a calf injury.For the first time three players who cost in excess of £100 million (US$135 million) were named in the same side as Barcola made his Anfield debut alongside Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz in the Liverpool attack.Isak fired just wide after a purposeful break by Szoboszlai in an energetic start by Liverpool in the first Champions League game of Iraola's career.But in their desperation to pour forward, the Reds left themselves wide open to the counter-attack.Atletico were humbled 3-0 by Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to cap an underwhelming start to the season by Diego Simeone's men.Julian Alvarez's future has cast a cloud over Atletico on and off the field for the past few months after his desire for a move to Barcelona was steadfastly rejected by the club's hierarchy.The Argentine was handed his first start of the season and cut open the Liverpool defence for the opening goal.Llorente, who named his dog Anfield after scoring twice in Atletico's last 16 win over Liverpool in 2020, raced onto Alvarez's pass to score his fifth goal in three visits to Anfield with the Spanish side.Barcola's first start Only a brilliant save by Alisson Becker denied Alvarez from long range before the Liverpool fightback began.Barcola twice should have marked his first chance to impress his new fanbase with a goal.The French winger, who could cost up to £123 million, failed to squeeze the ball past Jan Oblak with just the giant Slovenian to beat.However, Liverpool kept the attack alive and Ronald Araujo's flick teed up Szoboszlai to find the bottom corner on 40 minutes.Barcola missed an even better chance for his first Liverpool goal when he fired wide after being pla… Marcos Llorente had given the visitors an early lead before Dominik Szoboszlai levelled.
Alexis Mac Allister did his case for an improved Liverpool contract no harm with the winner as Andoni Iraola got off to a winning Champions League start by beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Wednesday. Mac Allister expressed his frustration at not being offered a new deal on the eve of the match, but responded by blasting home from the edge of the box to cap Liverpool’s comeback. Marcos Llorente had given Atletico an early lead before Dominik Szoboszlai levelled before half-time.
Victory came at a cost for the Reds, though, as new signing Bradley Barcola limped off with a calf injury. For the first time three players who cost in excess of £100 million ($135 million) were named in the same side as Barcola made his Anfield debut alongside Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz in the Liverpool attack. Isak fired just wide after a purposeful break by Szoboszlai in an energetic start by Liverpool in the first Champions League game of Iraola’s career.
But in their desperation to pour forward, the Reds left themselves wide open to the counter-attack. Atletico were humbled 3-0 by Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to cap an underwhelming start to the season by Diego Simeone’s men. Julian Alvarez’s future has cast a cloud over Atletico on and off the field for the past few months after his desire for a move to Barcelona was steadfastly rejected by the club’s hierarchy.
The Argentine was handed his first start of the season and cut open the Liverpool defence for the opening goal. Llorente, who named his dog Anfield after scoring twice in Atletico’s last 16 win over Liverpool in 2020, raced onto Alvarez’s pass to score his fifth goal in three visits to Anfield with the Spanish side. – Barcola’s first start – Only a brilliant save by Alisson Becker denied Alvarez from long range before the Liverpool fightback began.
Barcola twice should have marked his first chance to impress his new fanbase with a goal. The French winger, who could cost up to £123 million, failed to squeeze the ball past Jan Oblak with just the giant Slovenian to beat. However, Liverpool kept the attack alive and Ronald Araujo’s flick teed up Szoboszlai to find the bottom corner on 40 minutes.
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