Liverpool began their 2026/27 Champions League campaign by hosting Atletico Madrid at Anfield; a winning start would set the stage for the Reds in the UCL.

Story of the Match

Alexis Mac Allister's second-half strike completed a Liverpool turnaround victory in their Champions League opener. Going behind Marcos Llorente's trademark Anfield goal. Szoboszlai found the equaliser just before halftime, and Mac Allister winner early in the second half in what will be Iraola's first European night as a manager.

Atletico started brightly, pressing high and testing Liverpool with their intensity from the off. Thirteen minutes in, Baena fizzed a shot just outside the box over the bar, then Barcola picked up a ball over the top, brought it down, and forced Oblak into a good early save. Atletico Madrid got their lead after 17 minutes; Julian Alvarez slipped a weighted through ball into the run of Marcos Llorente, who coolly lifted the ball over Alisson and into the net. His fifth goal at Anfield in the Champions League. Liverpool's biggest European nightmare at it again.

The home side were too open in midfield, Kerkez losing his man for the goal, and Atletico almost doubled the lead in the twenty-seventh minute, only for Alisson to produce a superb save, diving to his right. 

The equaliser came just before the break, with Ronald Araujo neatly flicking the ball into the path of Szoboszlai, who hit a powerful right-footed drive that crashed into the net. 

The second half started with the same intensity as Barcola in a one-on-one chance with Black and the goal at his mercy, only to send it off target, and Liverpool were not waiting long for the goal they needed. Atletico's defence failed to clear, and Mac Allister pounded a left-footed strike past Oblak into the bottom corner on fifty minutes.

Liverpool thought they had a third with a goal that was later disallowed for offside by Jeremie Frimpong. Allison saved a straight shot from Alvarez, Araujo headed over from a corner, and Munoz had a shot saved by Oblak as Liverpool searched for a third that never came.

Match Verdict

The player of the match was Alexis Mac Allister. Not just for his winning goal but for the complete performance he produced from the start to the end of the game. Early booking in the first half, never let it affect his game, and struck the winner in a decisive moment. Florian Wirtz was outstanding, and outside Llorente's goal, Alisson was crucial in keeping Liverpool in the game.

Player Ratings

Alisson 7.5/10

Ronald Araujo 7/10

Virgil van Dijk 7/10

Jérémy Jacquet 7.5/10

Milos Kerkez 7/10

Dominik Szoboszlai 8/10

Alexis Mac Allister 8.5/10

Rio Ngumoha 7.5/10

Florian Wirtz 8/10

Bradley Barcola 6.5/10

Alexander Isak 7/10

Jeremie Frimpong (sub) 6.5/10

Victor Munoz (sub) 6.5/10

Ryan Gravenberch (sub) 7/10

Iraola's side is unbeaten so far this season, and the Champions League is off to a perfect start.