Liverpool kicked off their Champions League campaign with late drama at Anfield as Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time header sealed a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in a pulsating clash on Wednesday night.
The Dutch defender’s goal not only secured three crucial points but also sparked chaos on the touchline as Atletico manager Diego Simeone was shown a red card after protesting furiously.
The Reds looked set for a comfortable evening after a lightning-fast start. Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead inside five minutes when his free-kick deflected off Andy Robertson and wrong-footed Jan Oblak.
Moments later, Salah doubled the advantage with a composed finish after outmuscling two defenders and slotting home from Ryan Gravenberch’s clever pass.
Atletico, however, refused to fold despite their poor domestic form. Against the run of play, Marcos Llorente gave the visitors a lifeline on the stroke of half-time, steering the ball into the far corner to silence Anfield temporarily.
The Spaniard, who tormented Liverpool in their infamous 2020 last-16 defeat, would strike again.
Liverpool missed several chances to put the game to bed in the second half, with Salah rattling the post and new signing Alexander Isak showing signs of rust before being substituted.
Their wastefulness proved costly when Llorente grabbed his second of the night in the 81st minute, his volley deflecting off Alexis Mac Allister and leaving Alisson Becker stranded.
The tension inside Anfield was palpable as memories of past Atletico comebacks loomed large. But Arne Slot’s men refused to collapse. With time slipping away, Dominik Szoboszlai swung in a corner and Van Dijk rose unmarked to power his header past Oblak in the 92nd minute, sending the home crowd into delirium.
Simeone’s fury boiled over immediately after the goal. The Argentine coach clashed with fans near the touchline, appearing to demand the removal of one supporter before being shown a straight red card by referee Maurizio Mariani. It was a chaotic end to an already breathless encounter.
Despite the nervy finish, Liverpool extended their remarkable run of late winners this season.
They have now scored decisive goals after the 80th minute in all five of their Premier League and Champions League matches so far, underlining their never-say-die mentality.
For Salah, it was a return to centre stage after recent speculation about his role amid the arrivals of big-money forwards Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, and Isak.
The Egyptian was electric on the night, tormenting Atletico’s backline and proving why he remains Klopp’s most reliable attacking weapon.
Atletico, meanwhile, are enduring a torrid campaign. With just one win in their opening four La Liga fixtures and now a defeat in Europe, Simeone faces questions over a side that once prided itself on defensive steel but conceded three soft goals at Anfield. Their failure to deal with set pieces proved especially costly.
READ ALSO FROM SPORTING TRIBUNE
The balance between the two sides remains tight, and the title will be settled by…
The Premier League is set to have five teams in next season’s Champions League through…
The Catalans ultimately ground out a 1-0 win on Wednesday, further cementing their status as…
Chelsea are also looking at former midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who is currently managing Italian club…
City have hit form at the right time and are looking in ominous mood, clawing…
McFarlane’s move into senior management came earlier this season following the exit of Enzo Maresca....
This website uses cookies.