LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Anfield on September 09, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola acknowledges the Liverpool fans after his first match in the Champions League as a manager ended in a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield (Image: Jan Kruger - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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Andoni Iraola declared before his Champions League bow that the visit of Atletico Madrid would reveal how far along the road Liverpool are towards his preferred destination.
The evening, then, offered sufficient evidence the Reds are already making steady progress under the new head coach.
Certainly, there can be no questioning the commitment and character of Iraola’s embryonic side after this comeback victory ensured a winning start to their European campaign and maintained the growing early-season momentum.
Victory at promoted Ipswich Town last Friday may have been commendable, but the visit of Atletico was always going to be a more reliable gauge.
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And while far from perfect, that Liverpool were able to this time complete a turnaround after previously battling back for draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest was another box ticked.
Given the debate that continues to rage over the make-up of the midfield and whether the Reds would have been better served strengthening the area during the transfer window, it was perhaps appropriate the engine room provided both goals.
Not least Alexis Mac Allister, who unexpectedly dominated the pre-match chatter by declaring his sadness at not yet being offered a new contract.
That, though, will only be earned on the pitch and not the press room. So this was a positive sign from the Argentina international, whose thunderous strike for the winner was the highlight of a tigerish, tenacious display. More of this and the clamour for a new deal will surely grow.
Dominik Szoboszlai had earlier been the beneficiary of an audacious piece of skill from Ronald Araujo to drag Liverpool level after they had fallen behind early on to a strike from their Atletico nemesis, Marcos Llorente.
Araujo was arguably the standout performer for the Reds, defensively solid at right-back, effective going forward and with the experience of eight years playing against Atletico for Barcelona coming to the fore. His impact is perhaps the unexpected bonus of the opening weeks of this campaign.
The manner of the win will have surely enthused Iraola on his debut in the competition as a head coach, a first triumph over seasoned Atletico boss Diego Simeone at the fifth attempt. Indeed, his tactical tweaks at half-time helped take the game away from the visitors.
It was an evening of firsts for more than just Iraola. Bradley Barcola, the recent £123million signing from Paris Saint-Germain, was handed a first start and home debut on the right with Cody Gakpo absent, and after a slow start began to find his range and, following a part in the equaliser, should really have netted himself second half when released by the busy Florian Wirtz. His substitution due to cramp was an indicator the Frenchman is only just getting started.
On the other flank, teenager Rio Ngumoha was given his first Champions League start and demonstrated he can be a quick learner at this level, while summer arrival Jeremy Jacquet was composed at centre-back on his first taste of the competition.
There were some concerns. With no Gakpo, the service to Alexander Isak was almost entirely reliant on Wirtz, although given the regular rotation of the wide players it will take time for all of them to build relationships with the Swede. And, despite the goals, the midfield does still need tightening up. Iraola will have taken note.
Liverpool were two goals ahead after six minutes in this fixture at the same stage of last season, with Simeone having warned his Atletico players to be on their mettle from the first whistle.
Iraola, though, is attempting to instil in the Reds the importance of starting games urgently. And after scoring twice inside nine minutes at Ipswich, here they had an opening after only 16 seconds when Szoboszlai won the ball in midfield and fed Isak for a shot dragged across the face of goal.
But while enjoying the greater possession, there was never any sense of Liverpool hurting the visitors before they were caught out in depressingly familiar fashion on 17 minutes.
A basic counter-attack saw Julian Alvarez stroll beyond Szoboszlai in midfield and then roll a ball into the path of Llorente, who ghosted in behind the dozing Milos Kerkez to score beyond Alisson Becker.
Only Karim Benzema has scored more Champions League goals against Liverpool than the five Llorente has now accrued - all of which have come at Anfield. No wonder he named his dog after the stadium.
Liverpool, though, finally began to add precision to their possesion, Barcola having a shot parried by Jan Oblak before being involved in the build-up to the equaliser five minutes before the interval.
Found by Kerkez, Barcola was again denied by Oblak before Wirtz and then Szoboszlai kept the ball alive into the Atletico area where Araujo, having again shown his predilection for joining the attack, produced an impudent backheel into the path of the Hungary captain to roll the ball into the far corner.
The turnaround was completed five minutes into the second half, when concerted Reds pressure ended with Atletico clearing only to the edge of the area where Mac Allister thumped a left-footed drive low beyond Oblak.
Atletico pressed hard for an equaliser but were largely kept at arm’s length with Alisson not asked to repeat the first-half heroics when pawing away a long-range Alvarez shot, Liverpool dealing well with the set-piece threat of the Spaniards.
The Reds and Iraola are up and running in the Champions League.