Can Liverpool keep this momentum? Their Champions League campaign kicked off with a bang.
Andoni Iraola’s debut delivered the drama fans expect from Liverpool‑Atletico clashes: three quality goals, stellar saves and plenty of tension.
Iraola will breathe easier after his side erased Marcos Llorente’s early strike—his fifth at Anfield—thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai, who followed a slick backheel from Ronald Araujo, and a thunderous finish from Alexis Mac Allister, whose future has sparked debate all week.
Our team breaks down the key talking points.
Has Mac Allister made his point?
Mac Allister shunned caution when fielding questions before the match.
He admitted he felt “very sad” learning over the summer that Liverpool wouldn’t renew his contract, even as teammates Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai secured new deals. Yet, despite outside interest, he stayed at Anfield.
If the club essentially asked him to prove his worth, a decisive winner against Atletico to seal three points in Iraola’s first Champions League outing is a solid reply.
UK viewers watch here:
Mac Allister fires Liverpool ahead at Anfield! 🔥 Watch live on TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/KGOvuAEU4W — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 9, 2026
U.S. readers watch here:
ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER GOLAZOOOO 🚀😮💨 Liverpool surge to lead at Anfield 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AqHsInpvfl — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 9, 2026
It was understandable why Liverpool hesitated to offer the Argentine midfielder new terms after a season of wavering form. In my view, the club made the right call on Mac Allister.
A strong World Cup showing for his country has revived his confidence, and under Iraola he has started three straight games, resembling the form that helped Liverpool clinch the 2024‑25 league title.
Mac Allister repeatedly voiced his love for the club in the pre‑match press conference, and his jubilant run toward the Kop after scoring showed he wasn’t shy about emotion.
Should he maintain this level throughout the campaign, Liverpool could face a decisive decision soon.
Andy Jones
Why did Barcola have a tumultuous debut?
Bright moments, a couple of missed chances and an early exit after an injury scare made Bradley Barcola’s full debut eventful, especially after his £106 million (€125 m) transfer at the window’s close.
Arriving with a hefty reputation from Paris Saint‑Germain, Barcola seemed eager to prove himself, though his first task—chasing back to thwart an Atletico attack after seven minutes—was far from ideal.
Fans appreciated his work rate, and for the first time his chant “Bradley Barcola runs down the wing for me” to the 1958 Buddy Holly tune Heartbeat echoed around Anfield.
His hoped‑for moment arrived just after halftime when Florian Wirtz sent him through on a lightning counter; the duo linked up, but his shot slipped past Jan Oblak wide of the post.
The chance offered a glimpse of his potential. Fifteen minutes in, he chased a ball behind the defence but Oblak blocked his effort from a tight angle, then denied him again seconds before Szoboszlai’s equaliser after a pass from Milos Kerkez.
His speed and dynamism filled a gap in Liverpool’s attack, yet just before the hour mark he pulled up, clutching his left leg and was substituted for Jeremie Frimpong.
It raised concern, but Iraola later told TNT Sports that Barcola blamed a cramp, providing some relief to supporters.
Liverpool will hope that’s all, especially with Cody Gakpo also sidelined by injury.
Andy Jones
Was Araujo’s assist the best of the season so far?
Ronald Araujo sprinted off celebrating as if he’d netted the equaliser himself.
While Dominik Szoboszlai retrieved the ball after the goal, the Uruguayan defender ran toward the fans, justified by his audacious backheel that now vies for assist of the season.
After Barcola was denied by Oblak, Liverpool kept pressing through Florian Wirtz and Szoboszlai, allowing Araujo to join the attack and surge into the box.
Araujo faced his own goal with two Atletico defenders closing in, steadied himself and, without looking, slipped the ball with his left instep into the Hungarian’s path.
Szoboszlai then placed a precise finish to level the score.
Flicks and tricks aren’t what you expect from a centre‑back, yet Araujo’s physicality and aggression have already made an impression on Merseyside.
Though his natural spot is centre‑back, the 27‑year‑old has started two games at right‑back, steadily cementing a role ahead of Jeremie Frimpong.
He backed his solid Ipswich performance with another sturdy defensive display. While Liverpool remain a work in progress, he now adds cover alongside Jeremy Jacquet and Virgil van Dijk, giving the side extra balance.
That shows he can also contribute to Liverpool’s forward play.
Andy Jones
How were Liverpool carved open in the first half?
Marcos Llorente’s opener would have displeased Iraola, even if the Spaniard needs time for his squad to grasp his off‑the‑ball demands.
The goal stemmed from a mis‑placed Virgil van Dijk pass a minute earlier. Liverpool looked disorganised, while Atletico’s retreat triggered a partial forward press.
Alexander Isak and Rio Ngumoha surged forward, whereas Florian Wirtz and Barcola stayed still. Lee Kang‑in dropped deep, prompting Szoboszlai to half‑commit before retreating again.
Atletico returned to Oblak; this time Isak held back, noticing Pablo Barrios’ high right‑side positioning that blocked Ngumoha. A back‑pass to Oblak then saw Isak, Ngumoha and Wirtz press, but Barcola arrived a second late.
This allowed Atletico to shift the ball to David Hancko on the left and pulled Mac Allister away from the centre, leaving Julian Alvarez free as neither Van Dijk nor Jeremy Jacquet covered him.
Alvarez dribbled past Szoboszlai and fed Llorente, whose right‑back sprinted into the gap between Van Dijk and Milos Kerkez, who had dropped too deep.
Llorente’s clinical finish marked his fifth goal at Anfield, a number that even inspired the name of his pet dog.
Throughout the first half Liverpool’s rotations lagged a beat and their press lacked cohesion, giving Atletico easy passages.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Can Liverpool turn this win into a sustained European run?
Saturday, September 12: Fulham (Home), Premier League, 3 pm BST, 10 am ET