Liverpool 3-2 Atletico Madrid: Virgil van Dijk scores one more late winner for Reds in Champions League thriller

Virgil van Dijk scored a stoppage-time winner as Liverpool overcame an Atletico Madrid comeback to win 3-2 at Anfield.

Extremely, Arne Slot’s facet have now scored the profitable aim within the 83rd minute or later in every of their final 5 video games on this exceptional begin to the season. A annoyed Diego Simeone was despatched off by the referee within the aftermath, having been insulted by a supporter.

Participant rankings

Liverpool: Alisson (6), Frimpong (7), Robertson (7), Konate (7), Van Dijk (8), Gravenberch (8), Szoboszlai (7), Wirtz (8), Salah (8), Gakpo (6), Isak (7).

Subs: Mac Allister (6), Bradley (6), Ekitike (6), Ngumoha (6), Kerkez (n/a).

Atletico Madrid: Oblak (6), Llorente (8), Le Normand (6), Lenglet (6), Galan (7), Gallagher (6), Barrios (7), Gonzalez (6), Simeone (7), Griezmann (6), Raspadori (7).

Subs: Koke (6), Sorloth (5), Molina (6), Pubill (6).

Participant of the Match: Virgil van Dijk.

With all eyes on Alexander Isak, making his Liverpool debut, it was an Anfield veteran making his personal first begin of the season who opened the scoring. Not that he knew a lot about it, Andy Robertson deflecting Mohamed Salah’s early free-kick into the web.

Salah had his personal aim shortly afterwards to place Liverpool two up inside six minutes, leaving Simeone raging on the touchline and the supporters settling down to look at some encouraging mixture play by Isak and fellow new boy Florian Wirtz.

However Marcos Llorente’s toe-poked end in first-half stoppage-time put the end result again within the stability to offer Atletico hope and so they stayed within the sport till late whilst Salah struck the within of the submit after good work by Wirtz. Atleti’s resilience was rewarded.

Llorente’s deflected leveller introduced again reminiscences of his two targets in further time that knocked the Reds out of this competitors in 2020. That one ended 3-2 to the Spanish facet however this Liverpool have developed a unprecedented knack of getting the ultimate say.

In opposition to Bournemouth it was Federico Chiesa. At Newcastle it was Rio Ngumoha. Dominik Szoboszlai did for Arsenal, Salah’s penalty noticed off Burnley. Add Van Dijk to the checklist. 5 wins in a row and a dramatic begin to Liverpool’s Champions League marketing campaign.

The Liverpool late present…

Arne Slot’s facet love a late winner!

Objectives within the 88th and 94th minutes to beat Bournemouth
A 90+10 winner to seal all three factors at Newcastle
Dominik Szoboszlai’s marvel free kick within the 83rd minute to beat Arsenal
A 90+5 penalty from Mo Salah to seal victory at Burnley
And at last, Virgil van Dijk’s 90+2 header to safe a gap win within the Champions League

Slot: Positively shocked by Isak

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot talking about Alexander Isak within the press convention:

“I was positively surprised by how fit he was during the 60 minutes. That showed it might be different to sign a 20 year old from a different league compared to a 25 year old who is used to it.

“I used to be positively shocked by how match he was. I used to be not shocked by the standard however it’s all the time good to see when a participant begins how he began. Good begin. Solely 60 minutes. You may inform David [Moyes] he’s not going to play 90 minutes [against Everton].”

Isak watch – his key moments

13 – Drops the shoulder when reducing inside however his move can’t discover Gakpo

29 – Skips away down the correct wing and earns applause for profitable a throw

31 – Pokes it ahead for Salah to shoot. Fouled by Le Normand within the course of.

39 – Collects the move from Wirtz nicely however shoots simply vast of the far submit.

41 – Pleasant first-time flick to search out Wirtz. Then fires off one other shot himself.

42 – Slips in Wirtz with a one-two who rounds Oblak however Frimpong miskicks.

46 – Pulls out one other very good Cruyff flick to Wirtz that attracts gasps from the Kop.

50 – Extra top-class hold-up play earlier than fouling his marker when the cross is available in.

58 – Receives a standing ovation from the house assist as he’s changed by Ekitike.

Participant of the match: Virgil van Dijk

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher talking on CBS about Virgil van Dijk:

“I don’t like describing Van Dijk as the best centre back. At Liverpool, a lot of people get called legends because they’ve won the league or the Champions League. There are lots of them.

“However if you wish to differentiate, and I name them giants of the membership like Gerrard, Dalglish, Hansen, Barnes, Souness and Salah, the highest seven or eight gamers at Liverpool, he’s proper in the midst of that.

“He’s not at the bottom of the list I can assure you. He will go down as one of the greatest players to ever play for Liverpool. Not one of the greatest centre backs, one of the greatest players.”

Simeone: He insulted me

Simeone’s purple card got here because of a heated change with a supporter behind the Atletico dugout. Stewards needed to intervene within the flashpoint earlier than Simeone was despatched off by referee Maurizio Mariani.

“When they scored the third goal he turned around and insulted me. I’m a person, I’m human.” Requested to make clear what occurred within the press convention, he declined.

“I am not really going to get into the exact nature of the insults. I don’t want to get into that discussion. I know what went on behind the manager’s bench. I cannot solve society’s problems in one press conference. I have to live with it because it happens all the time.”

UEFA will await the referee’s report earlier than deciding on any doable sanctions following Simeone’s purple card.