Mac Allister delivers winning goal in the Champions League after contract disappointment

A day after revealing his disappointment over the lack of a new contract offer by Liverpool, Alexis Mac Allister delivered the perfect response with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Mac Allister unleashed a ferocious strike from outside of the box as Liverpool came back from a goal down at Anfield.

The Argentina international, who joined Liverpool in 2023, raced away to celebrate in front of the home fans. It was in stark contrast to his sombre tone ahead of the game when discussing the uncertainty over his position at the club.

“I received the news that the club was not in a position to offer me a new contract," he said during a pre-match news conference on Tuesday.

Mac Allister’s contract runs until 2028, so there is no urgency for Liverpool to renew yet. But his goal five minutes after after halftime was a reminder of his qualities, firing powerfully into the corner and beyond the reach of Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

“Normally when I’m in those positions I like to shoot," Mac Allister said. "It doesn’t happen very often but I’m happy because I love to score goals. Today, it was a nice goal and was important for the team as well, which is what I want.”

Atletico had taken the lead through Marcos Llorente after 17 minutes, with the midfielder extending his remarkable goal-scoring run at Anfield.

It was his fifth goal in his last three visits to Merseyside, having famously scored twice as Atletico eliminated then-defending champion Liverpool from the tournament just before the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Dominik Szoboszlai leveled in the 40th before Mac Allister’s winner.

“I think we have an amazing team. We have quality, we have desire and we have everything to be successful,” Mac Allister said. “But we need to show it. We have to have everyone in the same page and we can do great things.”

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

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Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after he scored his side's first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente looks disappointed after losing the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak receives the second goal by Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister scores his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

SEATTLE (AP) — Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury on Seattle’s first series of the NFL season opener against the New England Patriots on Wednesday night and was ruled out for the rest of the game.

Darnold was sacked by Dre'Mont Jones, and the quarterback's right leg appeared to take the brunt of the impact as Jones drove him to the turf. Darnold limped off the field, was examined in the sideline medical tent and then limped to the locker room.

The Seahawks initially said Darnold was questionable, then announced before halftime that he would not return. Backup Drew Lock replaced him.

“We’ve got to pick him up. We’ve got faith in Drew,” coach Mike Macdonald told NBC in a sideline interview.

Darnold's injury was a deflating moment for Seattle in the rematch of last year's Super Bowl, in which the Seahawks beat the Patriots 29-13.

Darnold did not miss a game last season as he led the Seahawks to the title. He threw for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the regular season as Seattle won a franchise-record 14 games.

It was his first season with the Seahawks after reviving his career with the Vikings in 2024, when he threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Darnold was 1 of 2 for 13 yards against New England.

Lock, 29, has spent two stints with the Seahawks. He was with Seattle from 2022-23, then spent a season with the New York Giants before returning last year.

He played only in mop-up duty last season, completing two passes for 15 yards in five games.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, (14) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Dre'mont Jones, behind, during the first half an NFL football game, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, down center, is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Dre'mont Jones, behind, as New England Patriots linebacker Elijah Ponder (91), linebacker Robert Spillane (14), linebacker Christian Elliss (53), and defensive tackle Milton Williams (97) look on during the first half an NFL football game , Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold throws a pass during warmups before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold turns with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, center, is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Dre'mont Jones, left, as Seattle Seahawks linebacker Connor O'Toole is at right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)