Mac Allister delivers winning goal in the Champions League after contract disappointment

A day after revealing his disappointment over the lack of a new contract offer by Liverpool, Alexis Mac Allister delivered the perfect response with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Mac Allister unleashed a ferocious strike from outside of the box as Liverpool came back from a goal down at Anfield.

The Argentina international, who joined Liverpool in 2023, raced away to celebrate in front of the home fans. It was in stark contrast to his sombre tone ahead of the game when discussing the uncertainty over his position at the club.

“I received the news that the club was not in a position to offer me a new contract,” he said during a pre-match news conference on Tuesday.

Mac Allister’s contract runs until 2028, so there is no urgency for Liverpool to renew yet. But his goal five minutes after after halftime was a reminder of his qualities, firing powerfully into the corner and beyond the reach of Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Mac Allister delivers winning goal in the Champions League after contract disappointment | iNFOnews.ca
Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister scores his side’s second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

“Normally when I’m in those positions I like to shoot,” Mac Allister said. “It doesn’t happen very often but I’m happy because I love to score goals. Today, it was a nice goal and was important for the team as well, which is what I want.”

Atletico had taken the lead through Marcos Llorente after 17 minutes, with the midfielder extending his remarkable goal-scoring run at Anfield.

It was his fifth goal in his last three visits to Merseyside, having famously scored twice as Atletico eliminated then-defending champion Liverpool from the tournament just before the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Dominik Szoboszlai leveled in the 40th before Mac Allister’s winner.

“I think we have an amazing team. We have quality, we have desire and we have everything to be successful,” Mac Allister said. “But we need to show it. We have to have everyone in the same page and we can do great things.”

Mac Allister delivers winning goal in the Champions League after contract disappointment | iNFOnews.ca
Atletico Madrid’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak receives the second goal by Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Mac Allister delivers winning goal in the Champions League after contract disappointment | iNFOnews.ca
Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente looks disappointed after losing the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

Mac Allister delivers winning goal in the Champions League after contract disappointment | iNFOnews.ca
Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after he scored his side’s first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

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