For once this season, it appeared as though Liverpool had done their match-winning early on. Two goals up before six minutes had been played, and it was fair to say that this opening Champions League game looked set to become a formality.
Mohamed Salah’s ferocious free kick cannoning in off Andy Robertson before then scoring himself had given Arne Slot’s team the perfect start and there seemed to be little need for another one of those late winners that have become a hallmark of the opening weeks of their campaign.
However, Marcos Llorente’s star turn ensured Liverpool had to win this game again. The Atletico player had scored a brace at Anfield in 2020 when eliminating Liverpool from the last-16 stage — a big enough moment for the Spaniard to name his dog after the stadium — and another double changed the complexion of this encounter.
One jabbed finish in first-half stoppage time reintroduced the jeopardy, but it wasn’t until his thumping equaliser in the 81st minute, courtesy of an Alexis Mac Allister deflection, that Liverpool were staring at a misstep on their first outing in a competition they harbour deep ambitions of winning.
But, for the third time in their opening five games of the season, a stoppage-time goal rescued the victory. Virgil van Dijk powered a header beyond Jan Oblak from a Milos Kerkez corner, and Slot had the perfect birthday present.
Such late acts are soon going to need to be trademarked — all five of Liverpool’s wins have now been secured later than the 83rd minute — but Diego Simeone could not handle this particular denouement.
The Atletico head coach had been his usual lively self during the game before reaching a peak when Llorente’s equaliser hit the back of the net and then becoming involved in an altercation with members of the home crowd when Van Dijk’s winner went in. He was dismissed by the referee.
It all meant that Alexander Isak’s Liverpool debut, which had been much billed, will be remembered for its dramatic ending as much as the new signing finally taking to the pitch in the colours he has been longing for.
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Story of the match
After Slot had confirmed that this would be the evening on which Isak would be first seen playing in a Liverpool shirt following his British record £125m transfer, the question on most lips around the city was whether it would be from the start or off the bench; it proved to be the former.
Starting his first game since Newcastle United’s final match of last season, 115 days ago, there were always going to be questions as to whether Isak would be a touch rusty, yet there were no concerns about Liverpool as a whole as they started in devastating fashion.
Slot’s players had total control of the ball in the opening minutes as Atletico had to go straight into their rearguard positions, and the pressure the visitors were under was exemplified by Clement Lenglet leaving a long leg out which upended Ryan Gravenberch about two yards out of the area.
Salah opted not for finesse but for force as he whacked the free-kick low into a crowded penalty area and towards the far post. The flying ball cannoned off Robertson and flew into Jan Oblak’s net with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
If that breakthrough after four minutes gave the hosts an early impetus, them doubling the lead two minutes later gave them breathing room in next to no time.
Salah was both instigator and finisher this time. The Egyptian darted inside from the right flank and, after playing a one-two with Gravenberch, forced his way between three defenders despite being third favourite to slot the ball beneath Oblak.
Simeone could only prowl his technical area, stare at the ground and, only then, try to offer encouragement to his bamboozled players.
Confidence has been low amongst the Atletico ranks after they took four matches to secure their first win of the La Liga season, which is the worst start since the veteran Argentinian manager took over 15 seasons ago, and they were without five players here, including former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez.
Salah curled one effort narrowly wide after cutting onto his left foot, and he also latched onto a ball over the top but aimed his attempt straight at the goalkeeper. It was Isak, though, who the home crowd wanted to see score next.
The Swedish striker recovered sufficiently from Robin Le Normand landing a large stamp on his left foot to bend a shot that travelled the wrong side of the far post after being fed by Florian Wirtz. Liverpool’s No. 7 also presented a good chance to Jeremie Frimpong following a drive forward, but the right back couldn’t turn it home.
Atletico hit back before the break
Such misses were placed in a new light when Liverpool switched off at a throw-in in the third minute of stoppage time and Atletico pulled a goal back. The visitors had hardly created anything before Llorente jabbed home from a Giacomo Raspadori pass.
Alisson having to repel Raspadori’s driven ball from a tight angle at the start of the second half further signalled the visitors’ renewed intent. But Slot made a triple change two minutes short of the hour which saw Wirtz moving to the left and Szoboszlai pushing further upfield in a 4-1-2-3.
Wirtz and Szoboszlai led one sweeping forward move that ended with the ball being laid off to Salah, whose shot struck the inside of the upright. Hugo Ekitike, Isak’s replacement, looped a volley over following another Liverpool break.
Llorente levels but Van Dijk has the final word
Simeone took off a striker for a central defender and reverted to a back five, but the equaliser still came. Llorente had already blasted a shot just over but made no mistake when a blocked clearance fell kindly and he thrashed a volley that took a deflection off substitute Mac Allister.
Liverpool were in need of late heroics once more, and Van Dijk would not disappoint.
