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Anfield hosted another European night on Wednesday, as Liverpool opened their 2026-27 Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid. Manager Andoni Iraola admitted afterward that his side were caught off guard by the Colchoneros’ tactical setup, a slip that nearly cost the Reds an early cushion.
The result stretched a pattern that has defined Liverpool’s start to the campaign. This marked the third match this season in which the club fell behind before finding a way through. In the opening Premier League fixtures, they trailed against both Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, drew level, conceded again, and had to fight for 2-2 draws in both matches.
Having also beaten Ipswich Town last weekend, Liverpool now shift focus to a home Premier League date with Fulham this Saturday, another test of whether the resilience shown against Atletico Madrid can carry into domestic form.
Atletico’s tactical surprise catches Iraola off guard
The visitors lined up in a 5-3-2 formation, a shape they had not used in recent matches, with Giuliano Simeone deployed on the left flank as an added wrinkle. The setup unsettled Liverpool from the opening whistle.
The early stretch belonged to the Spanish side. They broke the deadlock in the 17th minute through Marcos Llorente, who finished a sharp move set up by Julian Alvarez.
“I think I should take the blame for the start,” Iraola admitted in an interview with TNT Sports.
The Reds boss acknowledged that adjusting to the surprise took too long, with the correct response only arriving after half-time. Liverpool equalised before the break and completed the turnaround early in the second period.
“They surprised me a little tactically: they played with a back five, in a 5-3-2. We expected something different, and we were slow to adjust to that. After the break, we played a much better match, pressed better, and I think we were the superior team,” Iraola said.
Alexis Mac Allister, who scored Liverpool’s second goal, echoed that read on the match.
“We conceded because we weren’t prepared and didn’t defend well,” he told TNT.
Anfield atmosphere fuels Liverpool’s comeback
Wednesday marked Iraola’s first Champions League night at Anfield, and the occasion left an impression on the Spaniard.
“I loved it. The atmosphere was incredible, and I feel lucky to have been able to experience it,” he said.
The crowd’s energy translated directly into performance. Driven by the stands, Liverpool pressed with an intensity reminiscent of Jurgen Klopp’s peak years, attacking with directness through Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and others.
“It’s hard to ask for more. I think we showed a lot of personality, especially the players, after a difficult start,” Iraola said.
“I liked the mentality. We showed real desire, we managed to bring the fans onto our side, and that’s very important when you play at Anfield. That’s what we want, and I think it was a genuinely positive step for us,” Mac Allister said.
Iraola closed by tying the win to a broader trend building across his squad’s start to the season.
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“We managed another comeback after Forest and Newcastle. We still need to improve at the start of matches, but I’m happy because we showed character,” Iraola said.
Stay with TipsGG for continued coverage of Liverpool’s Champions League campaign and their Premier League push against Fulham.