Liverpool 2-1 Atlético Madrid: Two Goals From Midfield, and Two Players Off Injured
Post-Match🔥 Big MatchChampions League
LiverpoolVSAtlético Madrid

Liverpool 2-1 Atlético Madrid: Two Goals From Midfield, and Two Players Off Injured

Marcos Llorente put Atlético ahead on 17. Dominik Szoboszlai levelled before half time from Ronald Araújo's pass and Alexis Mac Allister won it on 50. Liverpool lost Bradley Barcola and Milos Kerkez to injury.

Wednesday, 9 September 2026

Liverpool went behind at Anfield to a Marcos Llorente shot from outside the box on 17, and won it with two more from almost exactly the same place. Dominik Szoboszlai levelled on 40, Alexis Mac Allister settled it on 50, and Atlético had the ball for most of the rest.


Both goals came from the centre of midfield


Szoboszlai finished right footed from the centre of the box after Ronald Araújo picked him out. Araújo is at Anfield on a season long loan from Barcelona with a non mandatory buy option, and his first meaningful act in the competition was an assist against Atlético.


Mac Allister's winner was left footed from outside the area, set up by Alexander Isak. He had been booked on 28 for a bad foul and was taken off on 69, which is what you do with a booked midfielder in a one goal game.


Atlético had more of the ball and less of everything else


Atlético finished with 54.8 per cent possession and 516 passes to Liverpool's 421. Liverpool had 14 shots to nine, five on target to four, seven corners to five. Alisson made three saves.


Julián Álvarez set up the opener with a through ball and Atlético did not create a clear one after it. Diego Simeone made five changes, Alejandro Grimaldo and Ademola Lookman together on 59, Jonathan David on 73, Robin Le Normand and Morten Hjulmand on 77.


Two injuries, and both of them matter


Bradley Barcola came off on 60 with an injury, replaced by Víctor Muñoz. Milos Kerkez came off on 88 with another, replaced by Kostas Tsimikas. Barcola was the £100 million signing of Liverpool's summer and Kerkez has started every match.


Liverpool play again on Sunday and neither of those substitutions was tactical, which is the part of tonight worth watching this week.


Three points from the hardest home draw available


Atlético are the sort of first opponent nobody wants and Liverpool beat them from behind without their best hour. Rio Ngumoha started and lasted an hour, Jeremie Frimpong replaced him, and Lewis Koumas came on for Isak at 88.


Three points, top corner of the league phase table, and a medical room to check on.

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