Liverpool 3-2 Atletico: Van Dijk nets last-gasp winner to deny Llorente's brace

LIVERPOOL continued their perfect start to the season with a last-gasp winner against Atletico Madrid in their Champions League opener.

Match Report

Arne Slot's side have won each of their first four Premier League matches this season in similar fashion, although their performances have not always convinced.

Wednesday's was the best Liverpool display of the season so far, however, with Alexander Isak appearing in the XI for his debut and Mohamed Salah inspiring a fast start.

Salah saw a free-kick deflected in by Andy Robertson, before the provider turned scorer after just six minutes, sweeping in following a one-two with Ryan Gravenberch.

Liverpool looked on course for a comfortable victory, only for an old Anfield foe to come to the fore again in Marcos Llorente.

He had scored twice as Atletico eliminated then-defending European champions Liverpool on Merseyside in 2019-20, and two more goals this time improbably brought the visitors level.

Llorente's second, a deflected, 81st-minute strike, came after Liverpool had passed up a series of chances to wrap up victory, with Salah hitting the post not long after the hour, but Slot's men appear to like doing things the hard way.

With record signing Isak long since replaced, it was left to captain Van Dijk to power in the last-gasp winner, after which Diego Simeone was sent off for an apparent altercation with some home fans.

Data debrief: Liverpool start early and finish late

Given both the level of Liverpool's overall performance, and the scoreline after six minutes, this should have been far more straightforward than the Reds' recent victories. Indeed, this was the earliest they have ever scored twice in a major European match.

But two themes of Liverpool's early season persist, with the Reds letting slip a two-goal lead, as they also had at home to Bournemouth and away to 10-man Newcastle United, then again showing they could win anyway.

Van Dijk's goal was the sixth Liverpool have scored from the 88th minute onwards this season and their fourth in the 90th minute or later, twice as many as any other Premier League side in all competitions.

Slot, though, will feel his team more than merited the three points, and can point to an expected goals (xG) figure of 2.6, to Atleti's 0.61, as evidence in his favour.

Salah, meanwhile, scored, assisted and hit the woodwork, becoming the first Liverpool player to do so in a Champions League game since Yossi Benayoun in 2007.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

4' GOAL! Robertson deflects it in from Salah's free-kick! Liverpool 1-0 Atletico

6' 2 goals in 2 mins! Salah doubles lead with great finish! Liverpool 2-0 Atletico

21' Mo Salah attempts an ambitious curling finish...it flies just wide

31' Highlight from Liverpool vs Atletico

36' VAR checked Lenglet's handball and the referee says no penalty eventually

38' CLOSE! Isak has his first shot which is narrowly wide

39' Another attempt by Isak from the edge of the box is comfortably saved

41' Wirtz has a shot following great set-up but he fails to score it

48' GOAL! Llorente pulls one back right before the half-time! Liverpool 2-1 Atletico

52' Raspadori shrugs off the attention of Gravenberch to force a save from Alisson

58' Isak, Frimpong & Cody Gakpo off as Bradley, Mac Allister & Ekitike come on

66' CLOSE! Salah has a powerful shot striking the post

67' Ekitike attempts to lift the ball over the keeper but it goes high

70' Highlight from Liverpool vs Atletico

72' Match Event for Liverpool vs Atletico

74' Liverpool have sent on youngster Rio Ngumoha for Florian Wirtz

81' WHAT A GOAL! Llorente scores a stunner to equalize! Liverpool 2-2 Atletico

92' GOAL! Liverpool 3-2 Atletico (Virgil van Dijk)

Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Salah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Konate, Isak, Gakpo, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jeremie Frimpong, Wirtz

Subs: Endo, Freddie Woodman, Joe Gomez, Mac Allister, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Hugo Ekitiké, Conor Bradley, Milos Kerkez, Jayden Danns, Giovanni Leoni, Rio Ngumoha

Atletico XI: Oblak, Griezmann, Lenglet, Llorente, Le Normand, Galan, N. Gonzalez, Giacomo Raspadori, Gallagher, Giuliano Simeone, Barrios

Subs: Koke, Sørloth, Musso, Dávid Hancko, Molina, Matteo Ruggeri, Marc Pubill, Carlos Martín, Salvi Esquivel, Rayane Belaid, Taufik Seidu