Mac Allister scores twice as Liverpool complete Villarreal comeback

Alexis Mac Allister was the driving force as Liverpool completed a comeback against Villarreal after falling 0-2 down in the Champions League.

Liverpool looked off the pace for the first 30 minutes. The visitors struck first after a passing move that opened the door for Sergi Cardona to finish past Alisson, and the second goal came after Cardona’s moment of indecision left Ronald Araújo with the perfect chance to score. Before the break, Araújo added another crucial header to swing the momentum.

Iraola’s second-half shift

The turnaround came after the interval. Rio Ngumoha stood out with runs from the right side and played a key role in building the move that led to Mac Allister’s second. With momentum shifting, the game tightened when Tani Oluwaseyi volleyed in a third for Villarreal, but Liverpool continued pressing and finished the comeback.

Villarreal coach Iñigo Pérez admitted: “We weren’t able to handle the ­emotion tonight.” Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola backed Ngumoha as well, saying: “They demanded a lot of him defensively… and he was very ­difficult to stop.” The Guardian also highlights how this was the first competitive meeting between the two former Athletic Bilbao teammates as coaches.