Mac Allister nets winner after airing contract frustration — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Alexis Mac Allister scored the winning goal five minutes into the second half, unleashing a powerful strike from outside the box past Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak to seal Liverpool's 2-1 Champions League comeback win at Anfield.
- Mac Allister had expressed disappointment the day before over the lack of a new contract offer from Liverpool, telling ESPN Argentina afterward that voicing those comments helped 'free myself up' ahead of the game.
- Mac Allister's contract runs until 2028, and the source explicitly notes there is 'no urgency' for Liverpool to open renewal talks despite his decisive contribution.
- Marcos Llorente opened the scoring for Atlético in the 17th minute, extending a remarkable Anfield run that now stands at five goals in his past three visits to Merseyside — including two when Atlético eliminated then-defending champions Liverpool from the Champions League just before the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
- Dominik Szoboszlai equalized for Liverpool in the 40th minute, setting the stage for Mac Allister's winner.
- Julián Álvarez started for Atlético after a turbulent offseason in which he tried to force a move to Barcelona.
- The result was Liverpool's first win over a Diego Simeone-managed Atlético side in any competition, breaking a run of three losses and one draw in the fixture.
Why it matters: Mac Allister turned public contract frustration into a match-winning Champions League goal, but Liverpool faces zero contractual pressure to act — his deal runs through 2028. The real stakes are symbolic: for Mac Allister, the performance reinforces his value while he waits; for Liverpool, ignoring a match-winner's stated disappointment carries a morale cost even if the timeline doesn't force their hand.
Ask SkimNews
