Slot pleased with Isak's fitness after Atletico battle

Boss Arne Slot lauded Liverpool's mentality after Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time header clinched a 3-2 Champions League win against Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

The Premier League champions let slip a two-goal lead after efforts from Andy Robertson and Mo Salah were cancelled out by Marcos Llorente’s double before Van Dijk headed home in the second minute of added time.

Slot told TNT Sports: "If you want to beat a team like Atletico, which is known and has an unbelievable mentality, you have to beat them with their own weapon as well and that is mentality.

"I think that’s what we showed again today, that we can beat them also by mentality. But I think we should have made it easier for ourselves."

Slot handed British record £125million (€144m) signing Alexander Isak his first Liverpool appearance by including him in his starting line-up and was delighted with the Swede's contribution.

The Dutchman, who celebrated victory on his 47th birthday, said: "Particularly because I think in the 60 minutes he played, he seemed to be quite fit to me so it wasn’t as if, after 10 minutes, he was already very tired.

"He could just play at this level quite well so that was the most positive thing and that he can play football and that he’s a joy to watch.

"That is not a surprise to me but he was maybe fitter than I expected."

Slot was unsure whether Isak will start again on Saturday at Anfield against Merseyside rivals Everton.

He added: "I’m really happy he could start today. That’s why we didn’t play him against Burnley. He was good today and when Hugo (Ekitike) came in, he was a big factor also.

"We have two great number nines and we’re going to use them, both of them, throughout the whole period they’re here."

Robertson, credited with the opener after Salah’s fourth-minute free-kick deflected in off the defender, also felt his side’s win should have been more comfortable.

He told TNT Sport: "I think we need to maybe get back to winning a bit simpler and a bit easier.

"Obviously it’s a great thing to have been able to keep going right to the end but when you’re 2-0 up and you’re playing so well in the first half, it should have been a more comfortable night."

On Isak’s long-awaited debut, Robertson added: "I thought he was excellent. He’s not really had a pre season, not had a lot of games since last season, but I thought, especially the first half, he was excellent.

"Naturally he got tired and then it’s amazing to have a player like Hugo to come on and both of them have got such quality."

Atletico boss Simeone, who was sent off after Van Dijk's winner, praised his goalscorer Marcos Llorente as he continued his remarkable record at Anfield, adding another two to the double he scored in their only win here in 2020.

"Marcos likes this stadium, he repeated a fantastic performance here," he said.

"I think our spirits are high. We lost in the end, sometimes it's your turn to lose, that's what happened today."

Van Dijk's goal sparked a fracas on the touchline which resulted in Atleti boss Diego Simeone being sent off after getting into an argument with fans behind his dugout.

"They were shouting insults through the whole game from behind the bench and I cannot say anything as I am a coach," the Argentinian said.

"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 said he hoped the Anfield club would take action.

"I hope that a team like Liverpool can improve that part," he added. "When they identify the person who did this, it should have its consequences.

"But the person who needs to stay calm, and take the insults, is me. In my place you just have to take it."

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