Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid: Andoni Iraola Secures Victory in Champions League Opener at Anfield

After Liverpool earned their first win of the season away to Ipswich Town last Friday, they turned their attention to European competition, with a Champions League night at Anfield awaiting Andoni Iraola's side. A tough opening fixture saw Atletico Madrid come to Merseyside for the second time in two seasons, but could the Reds gain some momentum this season by securing a positive result against Diego Simeone's side?

Just two changes to the starting XI for LFC, with Bradley Barcola making his first start for the club and his Anfield debut on a UCL night, will have been something the young French forward will have dreamt of since the moment he signed for the club. He came in for the injured Cody Gakpo, who was left out of the squad as a precaution due to adductor issues after the Ipswich game, but Iraola stated before the game that this injury isn't thought to be too serious, and the Dutchman could return for the next game. 

And a start for Rio Ngumoha, who was an unused substitute in the last game, but came into the side in place of Victor Munoz, with Andoni Iraola keeping things fresh on the wings as the number of games in the coming weeks begins to increase.

Liverpool's Starting XI

The Atletico Madrid side saw a first start of the season for Julian Alvarez, after his World Cup involvement and delayed return due to his desire to move to Barcelona during the summer window. The likes of Cristian Romero and club captain Koke also started for Diego Simeone's side, who were looking for a bounce-back performance after a 3-0 thumping by Athletic Bilbao in the league last weekend.

But it was the home side that started the game fast, immediately winning the ball back from Atletico Madrid through Szoboszlai, who drove up the pitch, played a pass to Alexander Isak on the right-hand side of the box, who dragged his shot just wide of the far post, but a positive start for Andoni Iraola's side. 

Bradley Barcola had a run in behind on the right wing, where the Frenchman showed his pace, left the Atletico defenders for dust, tried to poke the ball past Jan Oblak, but the experienced goalkeeper made a smart stop.

But it would be Atletico Madrid who would hit the front first through Marcos Llorente as the Spanish side advanced through the Liverpool midfield with Julian Alvarez the one who timed a pass through the LFC back line to the on-running Llorente, who lost his marker in Milos Kerkez, and the Spanish right-back dinked the ball over Alisson, and put his side 1-0 up at Anfield.

Atletico would continue to apply pressure to the Reds' goal, with a ball played to Julian Alvarez on the edge of the box after Giuliano Simeone exploited a high line by Andoni Iraola's side. Alvarez took a shot and forced an excellent save to his right post from Alisson Becker.

Barcola, Isak and Wirtz then linked up going forward. Barcola ran towards the Atletico defence, laid it off to Isak, who spun a ball into the box for a late-arriving Florian Wirtz, with the German playmaker's strike straight at Oblak, before an offside flag was raised. 

But Liverpool's persistence would finally pay off as Milos Kerkez won the ball high up the pitch, put Bradley Barcola one-on-one with Oblak, and the goalkeeper saved it. Then Araujo found the loose ball, flicked it through two Atletico defenders inside the box, which Szoboszlai got on the end of and calmly found the bottom right corner from close range to bring the scoreline level just before half-time. 

No changes were made by either side, as Andoni Iraola will have been hoping his starting XI could continue the momentum they built towards the end of the first half.

The first highlight of the second half was a counterattack from the Reds as a one-two with Florian Wirtz, leaving Bradley Barcola one-on-one with Oblak, but his shot was just wide of the bottom corner. 

But it wouldn't be long until the Merseyside club would take the lead, after the ball would find Alexis Mac Allister, who has been a topic of conversation ahead of this game after his contract comments in the press conference prior to tonight, but the Argentinian would strike a powerful shot into the left-hand side of the goal, from the edge of the box, and put his team 2-1 up.

A concerning sight for most inside Anfield was Bradley Barcola coming off just before the hour mark with what appeared to be a possible injury for the £123 million forward. Jeremie Frimpong would come on in his place, with Rio Ngumoha also making way for Victor Munoz. 

The Atletico Madrid response would begin following these changes, with Julian Alvarez going closest for the away team with a tame shot directed towards goal, caught comfortably by Alisson. 

Atletico wouldn't put Alisson's goal under much more pressure after that, and the game fizzled out with Liverpool winning 2-1 and securing a comeback victory in their Champions League opener.