Liverpool pulled off a thrilling last-gasp win in their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid, thanks to captain Virgil van Dijk’s dramatic header in stoppage time. The 3-2 victory at Anfield on Wednesday night had fans on the edge of their seats, as the Reds fought back to secure the points in a high-stakes Group Stage clash.
The game kicked off with Liverpool exploding out of the blocks. In the fourth minute, left-back Andy Robertson nodded in Mohamed Salah’s free-kick after it bounced off him and looped over Atletico keeper Jan Oblak. Just two minutes later, Salah doubled the lead with a stunning solo run. He linked up with Ryan Gravenberch in a quick one-two, powered through three defenders, and slotted the ball crisply into the far corner. It was pure Champions League excitement right from the start.
But Atletico Madrid refused to go down without a fight. Marcos Llorente sparked their comeback just before halftime, firing a sharp finish past Alisson to make it 2-1. Then, in the 81st minute, Llorente struck again with a powerful volley that deflected into the net, leveling the score at 2-2. It brought back painful memories for Liverpool fans of Llorente’s brace at Anfield in 2020, which had eliminated the Reds from the competition.
Atletico boss Diego Simeone praised his team’s spirit after the match. “Marcos loves this stadium—he repeated a fantastic performance here,” Simeone said. “Our spirits are high. We lost in the end, but sometimes it’s your turn to lose, and that’s what happened today.” Tensions boiled over soon after, with Simeone earning a red card for clashing with the crowd in the fiery finale.
Liverpool’s never-say-die attitude shone through once more. Van Dijk rose highest to meet a corner in the 92nd minute, powering home the winner to seal the 3-2 Champions League thriller. The Dutch defender, who has now scored crucial late goals in four Premier League wins this season, summed it up perfectly: “We kept pushing and found a way again. I’m glad I got the winner. You have to keep going and show the resilience we’ve been showing for many years. It was another great European night here.”
Andy Robertson was thrilled but called for better finishing. “It’s great to keep going right to the end, but when you’re 2-0 up and playing so well, it should have been more comfortable,” the Scot said.
This match also saw the debut of Liverpool’s massive £125 million signing Alexander Isak from Newcastle United. The Swedish striker played 58 minutes, firing one shot wide and another straight at Oblak, but he couldn’t find the net on his big night.
Stats showed Liverpool’s dominance—they unleashed 20 shots to Atletico’s 10, though Salah hit the post with a close-range effort that could have changed everything. Under manager Arne Slot, the Reds are building on last season’s solid league phase, which ended in a last-16 loss to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain. With this resilient display, Liverpool’s Champions League campaign is off to a winning start.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
