In a thrilling Champions League match, Liverpool secured a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield, thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time winner. The Dutch defender rose highest in the 92nd minute to head home Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner, sealing a perfect start to Liverpool’s Champions League campaign. The win was all the more dramatic given the circumstances, as Atletico Madrid’s coach Diego Simeone was sent off in the aftermath of Van Dijk’s goal following a heated confrontation with home fans.
The match had begun explosively, with Liverpool scoring twice in the opening six minutes to stun the visitors. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring when his free-kick deflected off Andy Robertson, completely wrong-footing Jan Oblak. Moments later, Salah doubled the lead with a superb solo effort, holding off three Atletico defenders before slotting home from a Ryan Gravenberch pass.
However, Atletico clawed their way back into the contest through Marcos Llorente, who scored either side of half-time. His first goal came in first-half stoppage time, a low shot into the far corner, while his second was a volley that took a heavy deflection off Alexis Mac Allister, leaving Alisson Becker stranded. Despite Liverpool’s dominance, Atletico’s resilience was rewarded, and the match looked set to end in a draw until Van Dijk’s decisive header.
Simeone’s red card added to the drama, as he appeared to demand the removal of a Liverpool supporter, intensifying tensions in the Anfield crowd. The Argentine manager’s frustration boiled over, culminating in his dismissal by Italian referee Maurizio Mariani. Liverpool’s win extends their perfect start to the season, with all five of their competitive victories so far sealed by goals scored after the 80th minute.
