Liverpool 4-3 Villarreal: Mac Allister leads seven-goal Anfield win

The result

Liverpool edged Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield in a Champions League league-stage match that swung repeatedly from the opening minutes to the final whistle. Villarreal struck first and built a 2-0 lead, Liverpool restored parity before half-time, then moved 4-2 ahead after the interval before the visitors set up a tense finish with a late third goal.

The home side finished with 53% possession, 22 shots to Villarreal’s 14, and 7 shots on target to 5. Liverpool also recorded 145 attacks, 62 dangerous attacks and 7 corners, compared with Villarreal’s 72, 37 and 2 respectively.

Villarreal’s fast start

Villarreal were ahead in the fourth minute when Georges Mikautadze scored with his left foot. The visitors doubled their advantage on 29 minutes through Sergi Cardona, also finishing with his left foot; Nathan Saliba was listed as the related player for the goal.

Liverpool’s response began on 36 minutes. Alexis Mac Allister headed in with Konstantinos Tsimikas listed as the related player, reducing the deficit to 2-1. The comeback was complete in first-half stoppage time when Ronald Araujo headed home in the 45+2nd minute, with Rio Ngumoha listed as the related player.

The teams went into the interval level at 2-2, after a first half that contained four goals. Villarreal received the match’s only two yellow cards: Alberto Moleiro was booked in the 27th minute and Santiago Mouriño in the 41st.

Liverpool take control after the break

The second half produced three more goals, with Liverpool scoring twice and Villarreal once. Mac Allister put Liverpool in front for the first time in the 65th minute, finishing with his right foot after Ngumoha was listed as the related player.

Florian Wirtz, introduced at half-time for Araujo, extended the lead to 4-2 three minutes later. Wirtz finished with his left foot, with Cody Gakpo listed as the related player.

That scoring sequence underlined Liverpool’s greater attacking volume. They created 3 big chances, matching Villarreal’s total, but produced 19 key passes to 10 and 16 goal attempts to 8. Their work in individual contests was also reflected in 59 duels won, compared with 39 for Villarreal, while Liverpool completed 19 successful dribbles from 26 attempts. Villarreal completed 5 from 15.

A late Villarreal push

Villarreal did not let the contest drift away. Tani Oluwaseyi, who had entered at the start of the second half, scored in the 87th minute with a left-footed finish; Ayoze Pérez was listed as the related player. The goal cut the margin to one and ensured a nervy closing phase, but Liverpool saw out the 4-3 result.

Both sides used five substitutions. Villarreal’s changes included Oluwaseyi, Juan Foyth, Alex Freeman, Ayoze Pérez and Gerard Moreno. Liverpool brought on Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, Joe Gomez and James McConnell.

Mac Allister sets the standard

Mac Allister was the decisive individual figure, scoring Liverpool’s first and third goals and earning Player of the Match recognition with a 9.12 rating. Ngumoha was another prominent Liverpool performer, rated 8.52 and listed as the related player for two goals. Wirtz scored after coming on and received an 8.24 rating.

For Villarreal, Mikautadze opened the scoring and was their highest-rated player at 7.19. The final score leaves Liverpool with a hard-earned home win from a match in which both teams converted key moments into goals.