Liverpool 3 Atletico 2: How did they win it late again? Why did Simeone see red? How was Isak’s debut?

Liverpool scored yet another late goal through Virgil van Dijk to claim a 3-2 win against Atletico Madrid and kick off their Champions League campaign.

Marcos Llorente had silenced Anfield with two goals to drag Atletico level — just as he did in their round of 16 tie in March 2020 — but Van Dijk ensured Arne Slot’s side had the last laugh, following late goals against Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Arsenal and Burnley in the Premier League.

With Alexander Isak making his debut, Liverpool took full control of the game within six minutes. A fortunate Andy Robertson deflection helped home a Mohamed Salah free-kick in the fourth minute, before the Egyptian scored a fine goal himself following a neat move with Ryan Gravenberch.

The hosts were cruising, but Llorente’s effort at the end of first-half stoppage time made things interesting. It was allowed to stand after the offside Antoine Griezmann was deemed not to be interfering with play.

Liverpool brought on the 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha to become their youngest player in European competition and were on top. But Llorente’s deflected 81st-minute effort then appeared to have earned Atletico a draw.

Instead, Liverpool produced another remarkable late flourish in a frantic finale which saw Diego Simeone sent off.

Here, Gregg Evans, Jack Lang and Mark Carey break down the key talking points.

What happened with Simeone?

The final moments of the game were chaotic enough on their own, but there was also drama on the touchline, with Simeone sent off after appearing to be involved in a touchline altercation.

Television cameras appeared to show the Argentine exchanging words with multiple members of the crowd in the wake of Van Dijk’s goal. Simeone briefly walked away but then seemed to seek a way past a group of stewards who had formed a line in front of the advertising hoardings.

“There is a lot of talk about taking care, but they (fans) were shouting insults through the whole game from behind the bench,” Simeone told Spanish broadcaster Movistar afterwards. “And I cannot say anything as I am a coach. Obviously my reaction is not justifiable, I insulted him. But it was 90 minutes of being insulted the whole time. Then you turn around, when your opponent has scored, and they are still insulting you. It is not that easy.”

Simeone remonstrated at length with the fourth official, but to no avail. Referee Mariani showed him a red card, putting an additional exclamation point on what what was a dramatic, frazzled finale.

Jack Lang

How do Liverpool keep scoring late goals?

If Liverpool have been laboured and a little lucky in the Premier League so far this season, their start to the Champions League campaign provided quite the contrast.

One look at the scoreline suggests this was a close game. It was not. Liverpool gained control with a blistering start and played the type of football expected by the favourites to win the competition.

That they scored another late goal — this time through their captain, Van Dijk — was just a part of the story. A team with so much fight, resilience and impressive attitude is never out of the race and it is now almost inevitable that when they need a goal, there will be enough time left to get it.

In the weekend’s 1-0 win against Burnley, Salah converted the penalty which meant Liverpool became the only side in Premier League history to score winning goals in the final 10 minutes in four consecutive matches, following on from Federico Chiesa’s 88th-minute goal in the 4-2 victory against Bournemouth, Ngumoha’s 100th-minute goal in the 3-2 win over Newcastle and Dominik Szoboszlai’s 83rd-minute free-kick against Arsenal.

It felt like this type of reliance was unsustainable but on another classic European night, Liverpool showed through their grit and determination that it is still possible.

With the quality they have — Szoboszlai’s pinpoint cross was perfect and Van Dijk’s header both powerful and precise — on top of their belief, Liverpool have the perfect mix to get results, even when it looks like they are running out of steam.

Gregg Evans

How was Salah able to cut apart Atletico so easily?

Whenever Atletico Madrid are in town, you expect an attritional affair with space at a premium for the opposition. Diego Simeone’s two banks of four were out in full force in the opening minutes at Anfield, but Liverpool quickly breached their defence before the game began to take shape.

In fact, it was the fastest Liverpool have scored two goals in European competition, as Salah’s free-kick deflected off Robertson in the fourth minute to open up the game.

The second, just two minutes later, was far more intentional. Salah cut inside from the touchline to play a sharp one-two with Gravenberch — before holding off three Atleti defenders to bear down on goal in a one-vs-one against goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

The rest was inevitable.

Credit must also go to Gravenberch, who was consistently occupying the right half-space between Atleti’s defensive lines. It was his positioning that won the free-kick for the first goal, but look at the space he occupies for Salah’s strike — with a deft looped touch to return the pass for Liverpool’s No 11 to finish.

Strangely, there have been criticisms of Salah’s opening four performances in the Premier League this season — perhaps ignoring he has had three different right-backs behind him and still managed to score twice and assist once before tonight.

Sure, his performances were not what we would expect, but we now live in a world where people are encouraged to have short memories, forgetting exactly what he is capable of. In case anyone needed reminding, Salah remains one of the most potent forwards in European football.

Mark Carey

How did Isak perform on his debut?

Isak’s Liverpool debut lasted only 57 minutes but there were enough signs to show that the future looks bright with the Premier League’s record signing on board.

Despite having the fewest touches (17) in the first half and recording the lowest passing accuracy (63 per cent) of any outfield player, it was Isak who lifted the crowd every time he got on the ball.

The announcement of his name in the starting line-up drew a huge cheer as a wave of excitement swept around Anfield before kick off and once underway, there was a noticeable energy shift towards the new No.9.

Liverpool supporters used to fire up his predecessor, Darwin Nunez, with their encouragement, but this felt different, with a degree of expectation added to the excitement.

The Sweden forward linked up well with Florian Wirtz in the spaces between the centre and left-side of attack. There was one nervy moment where he lay face down after a heavy challenge from Robin Le Normand, but, if anything, that appeared to fire him up even more. His best spell of the game followed, with two efforts from outside the box and a clever pass into Wirtz that almost created another goal before the break.

Slot gave Isak another 10 minutes in the second half but it was clear by that stage his energy levels had dropped and it was the sensible decision to withdraw him to a standing ovation. No goals for the striker, but positive first impressions and plenty more to come.

Gregg Evans

Llorente returns to his happy place

Say what you want about Llorente — and many in Spain have in reaction to an assortment of bizarre social media posts over the years, including his, erm, left-field views around skincare — but the man knows how to silence a Liverpool crowd.

It was at this ground that the Spain international enjoyed the best night of his career to date in March 2020, scoring two goals in extra time as Atleti knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League in the last English game before the Covid-19 shutdown. The occasion meant so much to him that he subsequently named his dog ‘Anfield’.

That result was a robbery under floodlights. Even the most fervent Atletico fan would have to admit that it would have been a similar story here had Van Dijk not intervened at the last.

Llorente’s first contribution came at the end of half so one-sided that you half-expected the referee to call it off out of pity. Liverpool raced into a 2-0 lead. Atleti, missing Julian Alvarez, their best player and half of their new signings, looked punch-drunk and futureless.

There appeared to be little on when Llorente went for a wander just before half time, ditching his right-back position and setting off on an adventure. It culminated in a smart, jabbed finish that snuck past Alisson. The Liverpool players complained, claiming that the offside Griezmann had been in the Brazilian’s eyeline. Referee Maurizio Mariani disagreed.

For most of the second half, it appeared there would be no final flourish. Atleti battled admirably but continued to concede chances. Salah slammed a shot against the post when he might have ended the game. Then, with the minutes ticking away, Llorente popped up again, hitting a volley that cannoned off Alexis Mac Allister and into the corner of the net.

His efforts would end up being in vain. Atletico’s poor marking from an injury-time corner cost them a result they probably didn’t deserve anyway. Still, Llorente at least will head home with another little personal memento, a second Merseyside folk tale to tell his grandkids one day.

Jack Lang

What did Arne Slot say?

“Everyone will talk about the late goal because it is the ‘story’ of the game, like the last four games, but for me it was a different game,” Slot said.

“I would have liked it if we had talked about the attacks we had — Florian and Alex combining well, a great attack which ended with Mo hitting the post. I can come up with so many great attacks today.

“We are so fit that we are able to push one more time. But I’m sure we are not going to need stoppage time every game. There will be games where we create so many chances and we don’t need stoppage time to get a late winner, and there will be games where we need a goal in the last minute and we don’t get it.

“I saw many good things but it’s not for the first time we gave away a 2-0 lead either. It’s not something we were known for last season so yes, there’s a lot to improve but also a lot to like.”

What next for Liverpool?

Saturday, September 20: Everton (Home), Premier League, 12.30pm UK, 7.30am ET

(Top image: Van Dijk celebrates his winner; Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

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