Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was the star of the show against Atletico Madrid, on a night when Andoni Iraola took on Diego Simeone. This is what we spotted.
Andoni Iraola on the touchline during Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Andoni Iraola on the touchline during Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Andoni Iraola is off the mark in the Champions League, with an energetic Alexis Mac Allister back to his best for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid.
Marcos Llorente made it six goals in six games against the Reds when he clipped the ball over Alisson Becker to open the scoring, but the Reds were back level by half-time when Dominik Szoboszlai finished well following good defensive work from Mac Allister.
The second half came to a close just when the game was beginning to bubble, but it simmered beyond the interval too. Mac Allister slammed home a shot from outside the penalty area which proved to be the winner. Here are the five things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.
Bradley Barcola excites
Bradley Barcola, making his first start since signing for Liverpool for $166 million (£123 million), was clearly determined to leave a mark, and two surprise elements of his game stood out.
Firstly, that he was on the right-hand side was interesting. He looked at home there, for sure. Secondly, that he was so defensively diligent: he pressed well, and he tracked a long way back as often as he needed to.
Having won this competition twice in a row, he knows what big contests like this one are all about. At times, he (understandably) looked like he was still getting used to those around him.
Pretty quickly, however, the early signs were that might come, though he will have to be more clinical than he was in the moment that he put a good one-on-one chance wide. The verdict? Promising, with much more to follow.
Alexis Mac Allister stars and Ronald Araujo strong
Having done so well at right-back last week at Ipswich, it made perfect sense for Andoni Iraola to keep the Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo in the same role once again.
He was strong without the ball (even with a few Atletico through-balls coming down his side of the field) but limited with it. That is, of course, the expected trade-off.
Jeremie Frimpong has looked flimsy of late, so it was again an improvement on that. It still isn't the perfect answer, though it does seem like a decent solution to a fairly substantial problem.
Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid.
Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid.(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Even more of a nailed-on solution looks to be a rejuvenated Mac Allister, who was chosen ahead of Ryan Gravenberch once more here.
He was determined and full of energy, looking like a completely different player to last season, and topped off a strong showing with a superb strike from outside the box too.
He wants a new contract, and this is the only way of going about getting one. Play like this every week and he won't leave Liverpool much of an option.
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz flashes
Alexander Isak was electric against Ipswich, scoring twice early on to put the Reds firmly in charge. He started in a similar vein here, in terms of his energy levels at least, but Liverpool couldn't find him often enough.
Florian Wirtz looked better as a result of Isak and others looking much improved at Portman Road, but the German was too often crowded out here. Cody Gakpo, who should be back by the weekend, was seemingly missed.
Barcola, as mentioned, was lively, but Rio Ngumoha was more often than not left with four or five defenders around him. More time is required, perhaps, for it all to click.
There were glimmers — as ever, some of Wirtz's passing from deep was sublime, but he couldn't recreate it near the goal too often — but there is still work to be done. At this stage, that is forgivable.
Diego Simeone vs Andoni Iraola
Iraola had not managed a game in the Champions League before, and that can count against managers when they take some time to get off the mark.
Take Graham Potter, for instance, at Chelsea, who never looked comfortable. Iraola, in contrast, is already winning over the Liverpool faithful. Here, he took a big step towards showing that he can compete at the very top.
Standing alongside Diego Simeone on the touchline, he looked the part. While the former is no shrinking violet when it comes to throwing his arms around and trying his best to influence the referee, Iraola did some of that for himself.
It has been a theme of the first few games under the Spaniard. In comparison to Arne Slot, he is more intense on the touchline, much like his players on the field, and constantly shouting instructions and waving his arms.
He wasn't quite as animated as Simeone, but he wasn't far off, which is quite the statement.
Liverpool combinations still forming
With Gakpo injured, it was a blow for Liverpool to be without its best player from the opening few games. Ngumoha coming in added some fresh legs, with Victor Munoz — who has played quite a lot lately — still getting up to full speed.
Even with everyone fit, however, with two games per week for the foreseeable future (outside of the international breaks), decisions will have to be made. Different combinations will have to be found (it is the same at right-back too, for instance, where Araujo can't play every minute).
Iraola will have to keep tinkering until he finds the right blend, but even that won't stay together for long. That is the challenge that he faces over the coming months, for the first time in his career.
This was a first taste of the Champions League, and aside from Inter Milan, Liverpool should find most of its game, in what is a fairly kind draw, straightforward enough. Whatever the result here, ultimately, the Reds would have been confident of progressing. A win, though, is a major step forward, taking the pressure off a little further down the line.