Liverpool secured a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in their opening Champions League group stage match, marking the debut of Andoni Iraola as head coach in Europe’s premier club competition. The game took place at Anfield on Tuesday night and saw Liverpool rally from an early deficit to claim the win.

Atletico Madrid took the lead through Marcos Llorente, who scored his fifth goal in three visits to Anfield, putting the visitors ahead early. However, Liverpool responded before halftime with Dominik Szoboszlai equalizing, and Alexis Mac Allister netted the winning goal in the second half. The win adds to a pattern for Liverpool this season, as it was their third occasion coming from behind to secure points, following earlier Premier League draws with Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

Iraola, making his Champions League coaching debut, praised his team’s resilience and atmosphere inside the stadium, describing himself as “lucky” to experience the environment. While expressing satisfaction with the overall result, the Liverpool manager took responsibility for the team’s sluggish start. He noted that Atletico’s unexpected tactical setup—playing with five defenders—caught his side off guard, as they are still developing their cohesion compared to Atletico’s more established lineup. According to Iraola, the team adjusted during the first half and made further tactical corrections at halftime, which contributed to their improved performance in the second half.

Mac Allister, who scored the decisive goal, was also a focal point off the pitch after recent reports about contract negotiations caused some controversy. When asked whether his goal would impact those talks, the midfielder responded ambiguously, suggesting that discussions were ongoing.

Liverpool’s victory came with concerns over new signing Bradley Barcola, who limped off around the 60-minute mark after making his first start of the season. The winger, signed from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported £123 million ($167 million), was initially feared to have sustained an injury. However, Iraola later clarified that Barcola was suffering from cramp, as the player has yet to participate in preseason matches and is being carefully managed. The manager expressed cautious optimism about Barcola’s condition ahead of Liverpool’s next match, scheduled in three days.

Overall, the match showcased Liverpool’s ability to adapt under pressure, while also highlighting areas for improvement as they embark on their Champions League campaign under a new managerial regime.