Aadam Patel
Football reporterAnfield

Alexis Mac Allister scored an emphatic winner as Liverpool began their Champions League campaign with a win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

Dominik Szoboszlai levelled for Liverpool after Marcos Llorente had initially given Atletico the lead before Mac Allister fired in from outside the box to give Andoni Iraola his first win at home for Liverpool and his first Champions League victory as manager.

Mac Allister had dominated the pre-match headlines after his candid press conference on Tuesday, in which the Argentinian said he was "sad" that Liverpool did not offer him a new contract over the summer. But the 27-year-old, who is contracted at Anfield until 2028, did his talking on the pitch on Wednesday with a superb left-footed strike that gave Jan Oblak no chance.

With two draws and a win in the Premier League, Liverpool remain unbeaten under Iraola but for the third time in four games, they conceded first. Milos Kerkez failed to track Llorente, who got on the end of Julian Alvarez's ball and finished past Alisson to score at Anfield again.

Llorente named his dog "Anfield" after scoring twice against Liverpool in 2020 when Diego Simeone's side knocked them out of the Champions League. Of Llorente's 10 Champions League goals, five have now remarkably come at Liverpool's Merseyside home.

Alisson did well to deny Alvarez - who was making his first Atletico start of the season after failing to get his desired move to Barcelona - from distance and Liverpool levelled before the break after Kerkez did brilliantly to win the ball back and Ronald Araujo played a smart back-heel to tee up Szobozlai, who finished well.

Shortly after half-time, Bradley Barcola - making his first Liverpool start since his £123m move from Paris St-Germain - missed a glorious opportunity when he fired wide but a minute later, Mac Allister got the winner when he got on the end of a loose ball and rifled home in front of the Kop.

There was a slight scare for Liverpool when Barcola went down with cramp and the Frenchman had to be replaced on the hour mark but Iraola's side held on for a crucial three points.

Liverpool's next game in the Champions League is away to LASK on October 14.

How the Liverpool players rated

Alisson Becker: Well beaten for Llorente's goal but made a good save to deny Alvarez from distance and another stop to keep him out in the second-half. 6

Ronald Araujo: Retained his place at right-back after impressing against Ipswich. Battled well, with one particular press that woke Anfield up. Superb back-heel assist for Dominik Szoboszlai's equaliser. 7

Jeremy Jacquet: Impressive again at centre-half and increasingly looking like a player that could be part of Liverpool's backline for years to come. 6

Virgil van Dijk: Another commanding display at the back. Was furious after Milos Kerkez failed to track Llorente for Atletico's goal. 6

Milos Kerkez: Really poor defending for Llorente's goal and struggled in the first-half but deserves credit for showing great determination to win the ball back just before Szoboszlai's equaliser. 6

Alexis Mac Allister: All eyes on the Argentinian after his press conference on Tuesday but did his talking on the pitch by scoring an absolute belter with his left-foot just after the break. 8

Dominik Szoboszlai: Alvarez went past him easily in the build up to Atletico's goal but was in the right place at the right time with a lovely finish for Liverpool's equaliser. 7

Rio Ngumoha: Back in the starting line-up and on his preferred left wing. Looked lively in moments but Llorente put in a good shift against the 18-year-old. 6

Florian Wirtz: Had a great chance saved by Jan Oblak and got into some dangerous positions. Unlucky not to get an assist when he played Bradley Barcola through. 6

Bradley Barcola: The £123m signing made his first Liverpool start. Showed real glimpses of his quality with come great touches and sharp movement but really should have scored in front of the Kop shortly before Mac Allister's goal. Hobbled off on the hour mark but doesn't look too serious. 6

Alexander Isak: Wasted a good chance early on but worked hard throughout and is increasingly getting more involved in games, like Iraola wants him to. Was awarded an assist for Mac Allister's goal. 6

Subs:

Victor Munoz (on 60, Barcola): 6

Jeremie Frimpong (on 60, Ngumoha): 6

Ryan Gravenberch (on 70, Mac Allister): 6

Lewis Koumas (on 88, Isak)

Kostas Tsimikas (on 88, for Kerkez)

Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Nyoni, Chambers, McConnell, Danns.

Player of the match

A. Mac Allister
7.82
10 A. Mac Allister
7.82
8 D. Szoboszlai
7.77
33 R. Araujo
7.60
5 J. Jacquet
7.13
1 Alisson Becker
7.12
7 F. Wirtz
7.10
73 R. Ngumoha
6.84
4 V. van Dijk
6.75
29 B. Barcola
6.72
9 A. Isak
6.47
30 J. Frimpong
6.25
23 Víctor Muñoz
6.24
67 L. Koumas
6.20
21 K. Tsimikas
6.09
6 M. Kerkez
5.58
38 R. Gravenberch
5.58
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