Liverpool 3-2 Atlético Madrid | Salah, Robertson & Van Dijk Score in UCL Win

Liverpool kicked off their Champions League campaign with yet another dramatic late victory, edging past Atlético Madrid 3-2 at Anfield. It’s the latest in a run of matches where Arne Slot’s side has had to dig deep in the closing stages to secure their victory.

Inside just six minutes, Liverpool were two goals up. Andy Robertson marked his first start of the season and his first Champions League goal since 2019 – when Mohamed Salah’s free-kick deflected off his leg and into the goal only four minutes into the game. Two minutes later, Salah doubled the lead with a brilliant effort, pushing past three defenders before finding the back of the net for his 45th European goal for Liverpool, the most by any player in the club’s history. It was also the fastest Liverpool have ever scored two goals in a European match, just two minutes and six seconds apart.

Atlético responded on the stroke of half-time. Marcos Llorente’s strike slipped past Alisson, with Antoine Griezmann obstructing the keeper’s view but deemed not offside. Remarkably, half of Llorente’s six Champions League goals have now come at Anfield.

Liverpool’s much-anticipated signing Alexander Isak made his debut tonight at Anfield, Jeremie Frimpong was welcomed back into the starting XI for the first time after injury, whilst Alexis Mac Allister made his 100th appearance for the Reds. Julián Álvarez was missing from Atlético’s side due to a knee injury that is expected to keep him sidelined until early October.

In the second half, Atlético struck first. Llorente grabbed his second goal in the 81st minute, the strike deflected off Mac Allister’s leg. History repeated itself just as in 2020, the Spaniard struck twice at Anfield to drag his side back into the game.

But Liverpool’s late-match luck held true. In the 90+2 minute, Dominik Szoboszlai whipped in a corner and captain Virgil van Dijk rose highest to head home the winner. Anfield erupted, and so did Diego Simeone, who was sent off for his confrontation with a fan.

For Liverpool, the win extends their remarkable record of never losing a Champions League opener at Anfield, as well as providing a fitting birthday gift for Arne Slot. For Simeone, his 744th match as Atleti boss ended in a bitter European night on Merseyside.