Liverpool 4-3 Villarreal: Alexis Mac Allister on Andoni Iraola's "easier" tactics as Rio Ngumoha stars in Champions League

By Lewis Nolan | 20 Oct 2026 23:28, Last updated: 21 Oct 2026 00:17

Alexis Mac Allister has claimed that Andoni Iraols's benignant is easier to play compared to Arne Slot's pursuing Liverpool's latest win.

The Reds emerged arsenic 4-3 winners successful the Champions League connected Tuesday against Villarreal, with the hosts coming backmost from a 2-0 deficit.

Midfielder Mac Allister scored 2 goals connected the night, and his contributions earned the Merseysiders their seventh triumph of the season.

Speaking to Amazon Prime aft the match, Mac Allister explained that a simplified relation without the shot has been cardinal to the club's occurrence this term, saying: "Last play thing wasn't close successful the radical and this manager changed it, and that's truly important. The mode we play is rather different, I don't similar to comparison but I americium truly enjoying it.

"Now it's much man-to-man. You person to pass less. Last year, it was much similar a zonal thing. I similar both. In the nationalist team, we bash zonal and it works. It's astir america taking the responsibility. It's 1 of the changes. Now it's easier, you deliberation little but tally more."

Former Liverpool brag Arne Slot was heavy criticised for his attack retired of possession successful 2025-26, whereas Iraola has implemented the aggravated attack helium deployed astatine Bournemouth.

Liverpool triumph successful the Champions League: Should Iraola beryllium concerned?

While the Reds person been much assertive erstwhile they bash not person the ball, they person inactive conceded much than erstwhile successful 5 of their 11 games this season.

However, each 3 goals conceded against Manchester City successful the Premier League came aft Ryan Gravenberch was sent off, portion Iraola made galore changes against LASK Linz and Villarreal, teams that netted a combined six times against the Merseysiders.

That does not mean that Liverpool person been cleanable defensively considering the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Gravenberch person experienced difficulties successful the mediate of the pitch.

The Reds person inactive improved substantially compared to 2025-26, and determination is anticipation that the squad volition soon commencement keeping cleanable sheets again.

Rio Ngumoha: The astir important Liverpool attacker aft Villarreal assists?

The interaction of teen Rio Ngumoha should not beryllium ignored, with the youngster providing an assistance to assistance level the crippled astatine 2-2, portion besides creating the Reds' third.

While Liverpool whitethorn person elite attackers similar Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola, Ngumoha is arguably the lone originative subordinate they person successful the guardant line.

If the winger keeps processing his quality to proviso chances to teammates, past the Reds volition beryllium hard to halt successful the coming months.