Liverpool vs Villarreal: Mac Allister double seals 4-3 Champions League win
Liverpool maintained a perfect start to their Champions League campaign by storming back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Villarreal 4-3 on Tuesday. Manager Andoni Iraola’s rotated side, which left expensive forwards on the bench, found themselves trailing early before an Alexis Mac Allister double and a decisive goal from substitute Florian Wirtz secured the victory.
Rotated squad nearly costs Reds before second-half resurgence
Georges Mikautadze opened the scoring just four minutes in following a defensive miscue by Virgil van Dijk, and Sergi Cardona doubled Villarreal’s lead before the half-hour mark. Villarreal coach Inigo Perez, utilizing his knowledge of Iraola’s tactical system, exploited a much-changed Liverpool lineup that rested over £100 million forwards Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola ahead of a Premier League fixture against Brighton on Sunday.
Defensive frailties quickly undid the early advantage, however. Alexis Mac Allister sparked the comeback just before half-time, meeting a Kostas Tsimikas corner with a looping header. Minutes later, 18-year-old substitute Rio Ngumoha drove down the right flank, his cross eluding Cardona at the back post to allow Ronald Araujo to nod in the equalizer.
After the interval, Liverpool clicked into gear. Ngumoha’s pace carved open the Villarreal defence twenty-five minutes from time, setting up Mac Allister to smash a low shot in off the underside of the crossbar. Florian Wirtz, introduced at half-time for Araujo, added a fourth just three minutes later after being picked out by Cody Gakpo.
Although Tani Oluwaseyi pulled one back late on from an Ayoze Perez cross to create a nervy finish, Liverpool held on to move alongside Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the Champions League table with nine points from three games. Villarreal dropped to three points from their opening three fixtures.
