Liverpool once again proved their never-say-die spirit by pulling off a dramatic finish for the fifth match in a row. What looked set to end level was turned around in stoppage time, as skipper Virgil van Dijk rose highest to head in a corner from Dominik Szoboszlai. His 92nd-minute strike sealed a thrilling 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid under the Anfield lights.
Liverpool looked to be cruising in their Champions League opener after a dream start, with Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah finding the net inside the first six minutes. But Atletico Madrid, true to their fighting spirit, clawed their way back. Marcos Llorente — who seems to save his best moments for Liverpool — halved the deficit just before the break and then struck again with a deflected effort from distance nine minutes before full-time.
Just when it seemed the night might slip away, Anfield erupted. Virgil van Dijk rose to the occasion, powering home a stoppage-time header to seal a 3-2 victory and launch Liverpool’s push for a seventh European crown in breathtaking fashion. The drama didn’t end there either, as Atleti boss Diego Simeone was shown red in the closing stages, capping off a wild night on Merseyside.
Goalkeeper & Defence
Alisson Becker (6/10):
The Brazilian had every reason to be upset when Llorente’s strike was given, with Antoine Griezmann clearly standing in front of him from an offside position. As for the leveller, there was little he could do — the ball took a nasty deflection that left him with no chance.
Jeremie Frimpong (6/10):
Back in the starting XI after shaking off his injury, he brought plenty of energy on the right wing. He had the perfect chance to mark his return with a goal after a smart pass from Wirtz, but swung and missed when it looked easier to score.
Ibrahima Konate (7/10):
The French defender delivered a confident performance, showing real maturity after the talk around Liverpool’s interest in Marc Guehi during the break. Konaté stood tall in the air as expected, but what impressed most was how calmly he played out from the back with his passing.
Virgil van Dijk (9/10):
Liverpool’s skipper led by example once again. The Dutchman was rock-solid at the back, commanding in the air and composed in possession. And when the moment called for a hero late on, he delivered with trademark authority.
Andy Robertson (7/10):
Chosen at left-back over the summer signing Milos Kerkez, he made the most of the opportunity. Keeping things steady throughout, he strengthened his case to stay in the side — even if his goal came with a huge slice of fortune, as he barely knew anything about it.
Midfield
Ryan Gravenberch (8/10):
Slot’s key man shone brightly, especially in the opening half. Gravenberch played a decisive role in both early goals — first by winning the free-kick that set up the breakthrough, and then by sliding a perfect pass through for Salah to finish.
Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10):
It was another lively performance from the all-round Hungarian star, who linked up superbly with Gravenberch to dictate the tempo. Szoboszlai’s mix of energy, adaptability, and quality from set-pieces continues to be a priceless asset for Liverpool.
Florian Wirtz (7/10):
A big step forward for the £100 million signing, who was at the heart of everything going forward. With sharp dribbles, neat touches, and intelligent movement, he carved out more chances than anyone else on the pitch. On another day, he would have had at least one assist, after setting up both Frimpong and Salah perfectly.
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Attack
Mohamed Salah (8/10):
Lifted by his vital spot-kick at Burnley over the weekend, the Egyptian produced his sharpest display of the campaign. While there was an element of luck in his part for the opener, his touch and composed finish for Liverpool’s second goal oozed quality.
Alexander Isak (6/10):
Thrown into the starting XI despite not even making the bench at Turf Moor, the Swede impressed with a lively 57-minute shift. He looked sharper than expected and is already building a promising connection with Wirtz.
Cody Gakpo (4/10):
A quiet outing from a player who began the season brightly. Gakpo’s place in the starting XI is now far from certain, with Isak back to full fitness and Ekitike emerging as a real contender for the left-wing role.
