Virgil van Dijk’s dramatic stoppage-time winner secured a thrilling 3-2 victory for Liverpool over Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday night, as tempers flared and Atletico coach Diego Simeone was sent off following a heated confrontation with home fans.
The Dutch defender rose highest in the 92nd minute to head home Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner, sealing a perfect start to Liverpool’s Champions League campaign and igniting chaos on the sidelines. Simeone, visibly furious, received a red card from Italian referee Maurizio Mariani and appeared to demand the removal of a Liverpool supporter, intensifying tensions in the Anfield crowd.
The match had begun in explosive fashion, with Liverpool scoring twice in the opening six minutes to stun the visitors. Mohamed Salah, in resurgent form, opened the scoring when his free-kick deflected off Andy Robertson, completely wrong-footing Jan Oblak. Moments later, Salah doubled the lead with a superb solo effort, holding off three Atletico defenders before slotting home from a Ryan Gravenberch pass.
Despite Liverpool’s dominance, Atletico clawed their way back into the contest through a familiar source. Marcos Llorente, who famously eliminated Liverpool from the Champions League five years ago with a double at Anfield, repeated the feat — this time scoring either side of half-time to draw the Spanish side level.
His first came in first-half stoppage time, sneaking a low shot into the far corner. His second, in the 81st minute, was a volley that took a heavy deflection off Alexis Mac Allister, leaving Alisson Becker stranded.
But any hopes of a repeat of their 2020 comeback were dashed when Van Dijk was left unmarked in the box to nod in the winner, exposing a defensive lapse from a team once known for its rigid organisation under Simeone. The Argentine manager’s frustration boiled over in the closing moments, culminating in his dismissal and a fiery exchange with the Anfield faithful.
Salah Shines, Isak Struggles
Mohamed Salah was at the heart of Liverpool’s attacking threat, reaffirming his place in the team despite increased competition from big-money signings Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, and Alexander Isak — the latter making his Liverpool debut after completing a record £125 million ($170 million) move from Newcastle.
Salah was close to a hat-trick, striking the inside of the post following a swift counter-attack involving Wirtz, Ekitike, and Dominik Szoboszlai. His pace, strength, and composure were a constant threat to Atletico’s backline.
Isak, however, showed signs of rust after missing pre-season amid transfer drama. He lasted less than an hour and struggled to make an impact, though he did play a role in setting up a golden chance for Wirtz, whose layoff to Jeremie Frimpong ended with a miscued effort.
Defensive Concerns Remain for Liverpool
Despite their 100% record in both the Premier League and Champions League, Liverpool’s defensive frailties have come under scrutiny. Including their Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace, Arne Slot’s side have now conceded two or more goals in four of their six competitive matches this season.
While Liverpool ultimately prevailed, their inability to close out games and shaky defending remains a concern — especially against higher-calibre opponents.
Atletico, meanwhile, continue to struggle domestically and in Europe. With just one win in their first four La Liga games, Simeone’s current squad appears a far cry from the disciplined, ruthless units of past seasons.
Liverpool’s late win extends their perfect start to the season, with all five of their competitive victories so far sealed by goals scored after the 80th minute — a testament to their resilience and attacking depth.
AFP
