Liverpool 3-2 Atletico Madrid: Virgil van Dijk pulls off another late escape to spark Diego Simeone meltdown, writes DOMINIC KING
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Liverpool secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League group stage opener at Anfield. The match featured a dramatic display from both sides, with Virgil van Dijk ultimately providing the winning goal for Liverpool in the latter stages.
Liverpool started strongly with Andrew Robertson opening the scoring, followed by a quick double from Mohamed Salah that gave the hosts a comfortable 3-0 lead early on. Atletico Madrid, missing several key players including Julián Álvarez and José María Giménez due to injuries, struggled to contain Liverpool's high pressing and attacking verve initially.
Despite the setbacks, Atletico fought back intensely with Marcos Llorente scoring twice to bring the aggregate closer to 3-2, injecting suspense and urgency into the closing stages of the game. Antoine Griezmann led the Atletico attack in the absence of key forwards, displaying work rate and aggression but falling just short of a late equalizer.
Liverpool’s new marquee signing Alexander Isak made his debut but contributed more subtly compared to the standout performances of club veterans. The tactical approach by Liverpool's manager Arne Slot emphasized pace and creativity, leveraging recent signings like Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong alongside Salah to maintain attacking pressure throughout the match.
Atletico Madrid, under Diego Simeone, faced difficulties in the La Liga campaign as well, sitting in 16th place before this Champions League fixture. Their resilience was evident in the second half, but Liverpool's defensive stability held firm, highlighted by van Dijk’s decisive intervention that sealed the win for the home side.
This result boosts Liverpool’s hopes in the Champions League group stage, reflecting their strong start to the season following four consecutive Premier League wins. The match renewed the rivalry between these European heavyweights last seen in dramatic 2021-22 encounters, promising an exhilarating group phase ahead.
PP