Liverpool Prevail Against Formidable Atlético
LIV 2–1 ATL. 9/9/26
A cool, clear night, the floodlights along the roof of the Sir Kenny Dalglish stand dazzle and light up the Anfield grass. Somehow, every Champions League fixture that is held here feels like a final. It is the first competitive hosting of a European counterpart in almost exactly 5 months. And just a week removed, one year ago, from the last time these two teams stood opposite each other on this very ground, also match day 1 of this same competition. It felt fitting that Andoni Iraola’s first managerial credit in the Champions League would come against Spanish opposition. Like it might give us some advantage. And a true test that the opposition be titans of La Liga, a team who have forged a reputation worldwide for turning simple football games into battles between gladiators. Maybe he’d know better how to beat them. Maybe not. It’s a nice earmark though
This game last year marked the beginning of a season of concern for Liverpool fans. Having stormed to a 2–0 lead in the opening 6 minutes – thanks to two recently released club legends – Liverpool fell asleep at the wheel and ended up having to rely on a last second winner from their captain to nick a 3–2 victory. A theme for the remainder of that season. Atlético, like a number of teams last year, put Liverpool’s frailties under the microscope. Tonight though, the Reds hoped to prove that they had found a new energy, that they were ready to play again.
Ronald Araújo will start at right back, just as he did against Ipswich. He’ll be expected to provide extra assistance in cutting out the counter attacks that Atlético will rely on tonight.
Bradley Barcola makes his first start and Rio Ngumoha becomes the youngest player to start a Champions League game for the hosts.
The kick-off is taken and the crowd erupts. Liverpool surge forward immediately and Alexander Isak gets a shot off. The striker has a relatively quiet game, but his match sharpness is in no doubt as he spends the night hovering between the channels and bursting into action when called upon, like a leopard stalking prey.
The opening 16 minutes do not disappoint. Neither team will be settling for anything tonight. Liverpool look the more comfortable but both sides are leaving the centre of the pitch wide open. Marcos Llorente – Anfield’s bogey man – makes a great run from the outside in and Kerkez fails to track him. The Spaniard beats Alisson one on one to give the visitors the lead. And only five minutes later, Liverpool allow Simeone through in similar fashion on the opposite side, far too easily. It results in a long range shot from Alvarez forcing an astonishing dive out of Alisson who jumps to his feet and scolds his defence.
Marcos Llorente is in full charge of the right hand side of the pitch. He keeps Ngumoha covered and gives Kerkez a headache. 37 minutes in and the man must stop to take a breather before a Liverpool corner he’s just valiantly had to concede. A testament to his unrivalled work rate.
But only moments later the crowd roars to life as the hosts equalise. Kerkez drives forward and plays Barcola through on the far side. Oblak denies him his first goal in a red shirt but Wirtz collects the rebound and lays it off for Szoboszlai who dances through defenders on the edge of the box. Araújo helps him out with a slick little back heel through the legs of his defender and the Hungarian finishes the move off coolly.
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After half time, Liverpool defend an Atlético corner and Wirtz drives the ball forward. He slides it through perfectly for Barcola who’s made a run through the middle of a huge gap between the defenders. The crowd begins to celebrate too early. One on one, he slices it just wide of the post.
Just a minute later, in a gratifying juke, Ngumoha bursts past Llorente and into the box. He’s finally got the better of him. The cross takes a deflection and falls to the edge of the box where Alexis Mac Allister wraps his left foot around it. It flies past Oblak and Liverpool take the lead for the first time.
On the hour mark, Barcola’s night comes to an end after he feels some discomfort in what looks like his left calf. The electric young Spaniard Victor Muñoz replaces him.
Mac Allister as a number 6 seems to be working so far. There’s less pressure for him to get forward as much and sitting deeper allows him to focus on breaking the lines with his pinpoint passing and nip the ball off opponents in tight areas. Arguably his two biggest assets. For now at least, they can rely on his experience, his terrier like aggression and positional awareness. Booked, he’s replaced by Gravenberch with 20 minutes to play. The World Cup winner’s made a strong case for that new contract.
Liverpool spend the second half suffocating their guests. They move the ball through their opponent’s pressure time and again with some elegant, vertical one-touch passing, orchestrated by Florian Wirtz in the middle, who has looked bright acting as a fulcrum in the number 10 position.
Milos Kerkez, while improving, still suffers from lapses in concentration. But offensively, the 22 year old has linked up well with his teammates. It’s clear his comfort zone is higher up the pitch.
With 2 minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Jeremie Frimpong thought he’d sealed the win after rebounding a saved Muñoz shot into an open net, only to turn and find the linesman shaking his head.
Jayden Danns and Andoni Iraola smile and embrace as they walk onto the pitch at full time to exchange respects in an exciting, hard-fought contest from both sides. Atlético cannot be too hard on themselves, they can boast a respectable performance in what will likely be one of their most difficult away games of the competition.
A team in a period of transition, such as Liverpool are, can be forgiven for much. Talent and abilities and tactical things can all be coached and tweaked, but what is often most upsetting is when a team falls short psychologically. When they fail to rise to an occasion, when they crack under pressure, lose composure, their discipline. These are often signs of a deeper issue. These were the concerns of last year. Tonight, Liverpool thrived on the pressure. They worked their way back into the game, took the lead and played through the pressure. Invited it, in fact.
Iraola aces his first test. The first of many.
