LONDON, United Kingdom, Sept 9 – Martin Odegaard’s excellent start to the season continued as the Arsenal captain came to his side’s rescue against Napoli in Naples.
The Gunners were guilty of wasteful finishing and were heading for a frustrating draw in their first game in the Champions League since losing last season’s final.
However, Odegaard had Arsenal’s 1,500 travelling fans celebrating after a fine finish from outside the box – his fourth goal in five games, including the Community Shield.
Mikel Arteta’s side – looking to go one step further in the competition than they did last season – missed three great chances to punish last season’s Serie A runners-up before Odegaard’s goal.
Mikel Merino was presented with a glorious chance to mark his first club start since January but the Spain midfielder headed straight at goalkeeper Alex Meret midway through the first half.
Then Bukayo Saka looked set to break the deadlock only to lift his attempt over the bar before Piero Hincapie blazed over from inside the six-yard area.
The Gunners did endure a couple of scares most notably when David Raya spilled a shot from outside the box by Kevin de Bruyne, a Champions League winner with Manchester City in 2023. However, Ben White was quickest to react and clear the ball before the home side could pounce.
– Mac Allister nets winner for Liverpool-
Alexis Mac Allister scored an emphatic winner as Liverpool began their Champions League campaign with a win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
Dominik Szoboszlai levelled for Liverpool after Marcos Llorente had initially given Atletico the lead before Mac Allister fired in from outside the box to give Andoni Iraola his first win at home for Liverpool and his first Champions League victory as manager.
Mac Allister had dominated the pre-match headlines after his candid press conference on Tuesday, in which the Argentinian said he was “sad” that Liverpool did not offer him a new contract over the summer. But the 27-year-old, who is contracted at Anfield until 2028, did his talking on the pitch on Wednesday with a superb left-footed strike that gave Jan Oblak no chance.
With two draws and a win in the Premier League, Liverpool remain unbeaten under Iraola but for the third time in four games, they conceded first. Milos Kerkez failed to track Llorente, who got on the end of Julian Alvarez’s ball and finished past Alisson to score at Anfield again.
Llorente named his dog “Anfield” after scoring twice against Liverpool in 2020 when Diego Simeone’s side knocked them out of the Champions League. Of Llorente’s 10 Champions League goals, five have now remarkably come at Liverpool’s Merseyside home.
Alisson did well to deny Alvarez – who was making his first Atletico start of the season after failing to get his desired move to Barcelona – from distance and Liverpool levelled before the break after Kerkez did brilliantly to win the ball back and Ronald Araujo played a smart back-heel to tee up Szobozlai, who finished well.
Shortly after half-time, Bradley Barcola – making his first Liverpool start since his £123m move from Paris St-Germain – missed a glorious opportunity when he fired wide but a minute later, Mac Allister got the winner when he got on the end of a loose ball and rifled home in front of the Kop.
There was a slight scare for Liverpool when Barcola went down with cramp and the Frenchman had to be replaced on the hour mark but Iraola’s side held on for a crucial three points.
Liverpool’s next game in the Champions League is away to LASK on October 14.
