Alexis Mac Allister’s rocket settled a wild night at Anfield as Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in Andoni Iraola’s first Champions League match as a head coach. The win came on a night when £123m signing Bradley Barcola made his full Liverpool debut, missed three good chances, and then went off with cramp.
Barcola’s Eventful Debut
Barcola was making his first start for Liverpool after arriving from Paris Saint-Germain, but the occasion did not go entirely to plan. He felt his calf in the second half and was substituted, with Iraola later confirming it was nothing more than cramp.
The French winger had three clear chances to mark the night with a goal. Jan Oblak saved to deny him in the first half, and another first-half chance came and went. He then shot wide when sent clean through at the start of the second half, just before Mac Allister’s strike spared his blushes.
Iraola was quick to reassure supporters about the substitution. “No, it’s cramp. It’s just cramp, there is no injury,” the Liverpool head coach said in his press conference. “With Bradley, it’s about building his physical condition.”
How the Goals Came
Atletico took the lead in the 17th minute when Julian Alvarez put Marcos Llorente through on goal. Llorente beat Alisson for his fifth career goal against Liverpool.
Dominik Szoboszlai levelled before the break. Ronald Araujo’s clever flick put the Hungarian in to slot home in the 40th minute.
Mac Allister then won it five minutes after half-time. He blasted in left-footed just seconds after Barcola had shot wide at the other end.
Iraola’s First European Night
Liverpool had drawn their first two Premier League games of the season two apiece, and the open nature of this game raised the risk of a repeat. Instead, Iraola earned the victory in his first Champions League match as a coach.
Barcola was involved throughout. He was used on the left by PSG but showed his versatility playing from the right for Liverpool. His pace was a constant threat, and he won over the Kop within 15 minutes when he tracked back to shut down an early Atletico counter-attack.
The only worry was the sight of him trudging off before the hour. Iraola had stressed the need to manage Barcola given that he had not been involved in pre-season for PSG.
“He played 30 the other day,” Iraola said. “Today we had some question marks, how many minutes he can give us, and probably now we know.”
Key Moments From Anfield
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 | Szoboszlai robs Koke but Isak drags his shot wide |
| 15 | Oblak saves from Barcola in behind on the right |
| 17 | Alvarez sends Llorente through and he beats Alisson |
| 27 | Alisson tips Alvarez’s long-range shot wide |
| 30 | Wirtz denied by Oblak after starting the move himself |
| 40 | Araujo’s clever flick puts Szoboszlai in to slot home |
| 49 | Barcola shoots wide when clean through |
| 50 | Mac Allister blasts in left-footed |
| 58 | Barcola substituted after going down holding his calf |
| 88 | Frimpong sweeps the ball home but is well offside |
What the Boss Said
Iraola was pleased with Barcola’s overall display despite the missed chances. “And I’m very happy because also he has had two very clear chances against the keeper,” he said. “He hasn’t scored, but I want him there. That is where he has to make the difference – arriving to those spots, those positions.”
The Liverpool boss also noted the positive signs in Barcola’s performance. “And I’m very happy because in, I don’t know how many minutes he’s played, two times against the keeper is a good sign with Bradley.”
A Promising Sign
Adam Bate of Sky Sports at Anfield called it a promising performance despite the missed chances. Barcola’s fitness looked sharper than his finishing, and his name was being chanted inside 15 minutes.
That pace looks like it will be a real weapon for Iraola. The task now is getting Barcola up to speed quickly after his lack of pre-season minutes.
On this evidence, he can make a difference.
Source: skysports.com