'I loved it' – Iraola hails Anfield atmosphere as Mac Allister gets Liverpool off to winning start in Champions League

Andoni Iraola acknowledged that he couldn't have asked for more from his players as Liverpool commenced their Champions League journey with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid.

Atletico Madrid took the lead in the 17th minute through Marcos Llorente, who capitalized on a pass from Julian Alvarez. However, Dominik Szoboszlai managed to equalize before halftime, and Alexis Mac Allister then secured the win five minutes into the second half.

The triumph did come with a setback, as summer signing Bradley Barcola had to be substituted due to a calf injury in the latter half.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Iraola commented on the challenging start to the game. "It's difficult to ask for more," he stated. "I believe we displayed great character, particularly the players after a tough beginning. I absolutely loved it; the atmosphere was incredible, and I feel fortunate to have experienced it."

The Spanish manager candidly admitted his responsibility for being caught off guard by Atletico's tactical setup.

"I must take responsibility from the outset because they surprised me a bit tactically; they played with a five-man defense, a 5-3-2 formation," Iraola explained. "We anticipated something different and took time to adjust. After halftime, we performed much better, pressed more effectively, and I think we were the superior team."

Mac Allister's decisive goal was particularly significant given the recent controversy surrounding his contract negotiations. The Argentine had publicly expressed his dissatisfaction at being denied a new deal just before the match, while teammates Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch had recently committed to extensions.

Iraola was full of commendation for both goal scorers.

"Yes, it was a beautiful goal for him and for Dominik," he said. "They worked tirelessly. Alexis was very intelligent – I believe his first yellow card was extremely soft. They were applying pressure to find the second goal. He's a clever player and managed to navigate that situation."