Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister scored a second-half rocket in a 2-1 win to give his side all three points against Atletico Madrid in Matchday one of the Champions League.
Bradley Barcola started for the first time in a Liverpool shirt, and although he was lively at times, he was notably wasteful, missing three chances you’d expect him to score.
Marcos Llorente scored for Atletico to open up the game, but Dominik Szoboszlai brought the Reds back on level terms before Mac Allister sealed the game 10 minutes into the second half.
Barcola injured?
“No, it’s cramp. It’s just cramp, there is no injury. With Bradley, it’s about building his physical condition,” Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said in his post-match press conference.
“We don’t really know, or we didn’t know until now probably, how much he can play, because he hasn’t had any minutes in pre-season for PSG.”
“He played 30 the other day. Today we had some question marks, how many minutes he can give us, and probably now we know,” Iraola added.
“And I’m very happy because also he has had two very clear chances against the keeper. He hasn’t scored, but I want him there.
“That is where he has to make the difference – arriving to those spots, those positions.
“And I’m very happy because in, I don’t know how many minutes he’s played, two times against the keeper is a good sign with Bradley.”
New ground and what’s next
Liverpool’s win is Iraola’s first as a manager against Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, having lost all four previous games against the Argentine as Rayo Vallecano manager in the LaLiga.
Liverpool meet Fulham in the Premier League at Anfield next on Saturday, September 12 for Gameweek four.
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