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Alexis Mac Allister reveals how Andoni Iraola changed things to improve Liverpool vs Villarreal
Liverpool FC v Villarreal CF - UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD3
Photo by Lewis Storey – Danehouse/Getty Images

Alexis Mac Allister was one of the main reasons Liverpool were able to turn around a two-goal deficit to beat Villarreal at Anfield on Tuesday.

The Argentine continued his excellent form so far this season by bagging two more Champions League goals, and along with Rio Ngumoha, was probably the Reds’ best performer.

Before Mac Allister struck with a brace, things had not been going well for Liverpool, however. Two goals down after barely half an hour, it had looked like potentially being a very bad night for Andoni Iraola. But, according to Mac Allister, the Spaniard made a couple of key tactical tweaks to regain control and bring Liverpool back into the game.

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Iraola reshuffled Liverpool’s midfield

Just about everything had looked wrong from a Liverpool point of view during the opening half hour of Tuesday’s game. The defence was being pulled all over the place, the midfield was nowhere to be seen and the attack – Ngumoha aside – was nonexistent.

Iraola realised it, how could he not, and according to Mac Allister he made a change with both he and Trey Nyoni in order to turn the tide of the game.

“Already 30, 35 minutes into the first-half we made some changes,” the 27-year-old told Amazon Prime Video.

“Trey was a little bit deeper and I dropped to the middle to make a three plus one to give us more possession, because we were in a rush and we were not playing well.

“I think the last 15 minutes were already better and we played better in the second-half.”

“At the beginning the idea was maybe to play a little more on the right, open up a little more and play with Rio. We did it a couple of times very well but it wasn’t what we wanted. Thanks to the manager we changed it and we did well.”

Mac Allister opens up on personal changes

On a more personal level, Mac Allister continues to look like a completely different player from last season, when he appeared to be almost finished at the top level.

Asked by Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler what has changed from one season to the next, Mac Allister simply admitted that things were not quite right in 2025/26 and shared his happiness at turning things back around.

“Last year was a really difficult year for all of us,” the No. 10 said. “It’s clear that I was not at the level and I’m the fist one to say.

“Something wasn’t right in the group and this manger changed it. That’s really important. The way we play is quite different, I don’t like to compare but I am feeling good right now and that’s what I enioy.”

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