Liverpool began their Champions League campaign with a flourish and a flourish of nerves as Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time header secured a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
It was a result that blended resilience with drama, a familiar pattern under Arne Slot, though this time the performance matched the scoreline.
The evening had begun in a manner that suggested a straightforward night for Liverpool. Mohamed Salah, irrepressible once more, forced the opening when his free-kick was diverted into the net by Andy Robertson. Within minutes the left-back had doubled the lead, sweeping home after combining with Ryan Gravenberch. The debutant Alexander Isak, making his first appearance since a record move, showed neat touches in the build-up but faded as the contest grew wilder.
Atletico had been second best for much of the contest but, as ever under Diego Simeone, they refused to yield. Marcos Llorente, the midfielder who had once silenced Anfield with a brace in 2020, repeated the trick with two more. His first came midway through the second half and his second, a deflected effort in the 81st minute, left Liverpool regretting missed chances. Salah had struck the post not long before, while Isak was withdrawn before the hour.
Yet where Liverpool had faltered in the past, they found late resolve. With the clock ticking into added time, Van Dijk rose above the Atletico defence to head in Robertson’s corner. The captain’s celebration carried both relief and defiance, sealing a win that felt like a statement of intent.
Simeone’s dismissal in the final moments, following a heated exchange with home supporters, added a chaotic coda to a frantic evening. For Liverpool, though, the night ended in celebration. Four domestic victories have already set the tone, and Europe’s first test was passed in equally dramatic style.
