**Liverpool opened their Champions League campaign with a win over Atletico Madrid.**
Marcos Llorente extended his hoodoo over the hosts in the 17th minute with a fifth goal in three games the first half after peeling away from Milos Kerkez.
But the Reds fought back just before the interval through Dominik Szoboszlai’s close-range finish after a clever backheel from Ronald Araujo.
Alexis Mac Allister tipped the balance of the game early in the second half when he unleashed a superb first-time strike on the edge of the penalty area.
Andoni Iraola’s side sit just outside automatic qualification in joint-ninth after a perfect start to their latest involvement in Europe’s elite club competition.
_Here were the key talking points from Anfield:_
Mac Allister does a different talking
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Alexis Mac Allister has learned the hard way how to earn acclaim at Liverpool.
The fanfare around Andoni Iraola’s European bow was overshadowed by the Argentine international settling scores in a fiery pre-match press conference.
A bone of contention at not being offered a new contract saw [Mac Allister go off-message to the media](https://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/68019-mac-allister-drops-liverpool-contract-bombshell/), expressing his sadness at being overlooked.
Unlike midfield cohorts Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, who were rewarded with improved deals, the 27-year-old has not shone consistently.
Many supporters could be forgiven for being willing to accept the World Cup winner’s potential departure this summer, which was a genuine possibility.
But Mac Allister’s first opportunity to let his feet do the talking offered a further case for his contract being extended beyond its current summer 2028 expiry.
It was not simply a sweeping left-footed strike in the second half that swung the pendulum of this encounter which reignited the possibility of renewal.
The qualities which have steadily returned since the start of the new season were evident again in the face of Diego Simeone’s dogged Colchoneros.
A standing ovation as he made away for Gravenberch in the 69th minute offered a useful pointer on what needs to follow in order to get his wish.
Iraola on steep learning curve
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Life as a Liverpool manager is the epitome of sink or swim. Those who fail to heed early warning signs invariably pay the price sooner rather than later.
After a slow start at Bournemouth, Iraola is all too aware of how quickly the pressure can build – even if your methods ultimately prove vindicated.
The Anfield hot seat, however, is a different prospect entirely and one which requires a steep learning curve, as the Basque discovered against Atletico.
Simeone sprung a surprise at kick-off with the visitors deploying an unfamiliar 3-5-2 system that saw Marcos Llorente score a now-customary Anfield goal..
There’s a reason why the Atletico stalwart named his dog after the famous stadium, having now netted five times here in three matches since 2020.
It threatened to be another walk in the park for Llorente and Co. but shipping the opener appeared to sharpen the collective mind of Iraola’s side.
They finished the half stronger and regrouped after the interval to produce a statement victory that sent out a message to Europe’s great and good.
Barcola ignites and excites
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Anfield’s latest opening continental night felt the perfect opportunity for Liverpool to unleash new signing Bradley Barcola in a first start.
A 31-minute debut in last Friday’s Premier League win over Ipswich Town offered supporters a glimpse of what their new £123 million man can do.
That half-hour cameo saw the France international set an early record by clocking an early top speed for the English top flight at Portman Road.
Pace is an undeniable part of his game yet he showed far more when expectations and the opposition were raised by Atletico’s visit to L4.
An early serenading from The Kop, who reworked Maxi Rodriguez’s old chant in his honour, provided a fitting soundtrack for his imminent in-game ignition.
Barcola’s determination to drive attacks, often linking up well with Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, brought a new dimension to Liverpool’s final third.
He also should have bowed out with a memorable first goal when put clear by Wirtz but placed his effort on the wrong side of Jan Oblak’s righthand post.
First night nerves are understandable, even for a two-time Champions League winner, but the 23-year-old has already left fans clamouring for more.