Mac Allister scores twice as Liverpool recover at Anfield
Liverpool came back from two goals down to beat Villarreal 4–3 at Anfield on Tuesday, October 20, maintaining a perfect record in the Champions League league phase. Alexis Mac Allister scored twice as the hosts recovered from a difficult opening half-hour.
Georges Mikautadze put Villarreal ahead after a misplaced Virgil van Dijk header allowed him to finish from close range. Sergi Cardona then completed a move set up by Nathan Saliba to double the visitors’ lead.
Liverpool answered before halftime. Mac Allister headed in from a Kostas Tsimikas corner, and Ronald Araújo met a Rio Ngumoha cross to make it 2–2. The two headers changed the match before the teams went into the interval.
Ngumoha was involved again after the restart, supplying the low delivery that Mac Allister converted for his second goal. Florian Wirtz then scored after Cody Gakpo’s pass, putting Liverpool two goals ahead.
Tani Oluwaseyi reduced the deficit for Villarreal, ensuring the closing stages remained competitive. Liverpool held on for the win and moved to nine points, while the Spanish side remained on three.
UEFA selected Ngumoha as player of the match. His deliveries contributed to the equalizer and the goal that first put Liverpool in front, giving the teenager a central role in the comeback.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola told AFP that his side had responded well when under pressure but had allowed lapses at the beginning and after taking a 4–2 lead. The result secured three more European points while leaving the team with defensive issues to address before Sunday’s Premier League visit from Brighton.