Champions League
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Sep 17, 2025 8.00pm
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Atletico

Liverpool 3-2 Atletico Madrid: Highlights, man of the match, stats as Virgil van Dijk nets late Champions League winner

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Victorious Virgil: Van Dijk last-minute winner sees Reds earn win against Atleti
© Imago

Liverpool won 3-2 against Atletico Madrid in their first game of the new Champions League season on Wednesday at Anfield thanks to a last-minute goal from Virgil van Dijk.

The Reds' evening got off to the perfect start within the opening five minutes when Mohamed Salah's low free kick struck Andrew Robertson, deflecting into the net.

Salah then managed to get himself on the scoresheet moments later, combining with Ryan Gravenberch before bursting into the box and finishing past Jan Oblak.

Liverpool were awarded a first-half penalty after the half-hour mark, but following a VAR-recommended review, Clement Lenglet was not penalised for a handball.

Marcos Llorente netted a goal for Atletico just before half time after Ibrahima Konate failed to play an offside trap, and the Atleti man scored a late volley to level the scoreline.

It looked as if the home side would drop points, but Van Dijk scored a winner from a corner in stoppage time, and Liverpool begin their Champions League campaign with a win.

SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT

© Imago

Liverpool won seven of their eight league phase games in last season's competition but were rewarded with a clash against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.

Finishing as high as possible with as many points as possible does not guarantee a smooth path to the latter rounds of the Champions League, but victory against Atletico will significantly boost optimism that they can go far this campaign.

Atleti are not the titan they once were and looked vulnerable for large periods, though they can still take positives from the second half given they forced the Res into a number of mistakes.

Their vulnerability at the back will have to be addressed, and failure to do so could prove costly in the Champions League.

LIVERPOOL VS. ATLETICO MADRID HIGHLIGHTS

Andrew Robertson goal vs. Atletico Madrid (4th min, Liverpool 1-0 Atletico Madrid)

Salah lines up a free kick and drives a low effort towards goal, but his strike deflects off of teammate Robertson and into the right side of the net.

A perfect start!

Mohamed Salah goal vs. Atletico Madrid (6th min, Liverpool 2-0 Atletico Madrid)

Salah plays a pass inside the pitch to Gravenberch, who returns possession to the Egyptian as he bursts into the box, and the winger finishes into the bottom-left corner.

Liverpool fly into a 2-0 lead!

Marcos Llorente goal vs. Liverpool (45+3rd min, Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid)

Liverpool try to play an offside trap against Atletico, but Ibrahima Konate plays Giacomo Raspadori onside as he charges down the right side of the pitch, and he finds Llorente in the box before the Spaniard pokes past Alisson Becker.

A nervy second half for the Reds!

Marcos Llorente goal vs. Liverpool (81st min, Liverpool 2-2 Atletico Madrid)

Llorente waits on the edge of the box as a deflected cross falls into his path, and he volleys towards goal, seeing his shot hit Alexis Mac Allister and into the back of the net.

Atletico are back!

Virgil van Dijk goal vs. Atletico Madrid (90+2nd min, Liverpool 3-2 Atletico Madrid)

Van Dijk battles his way to connect with a Dominik Szoboszlai corner, and he nods into the bottom-right corner to give Liverpool the lead.

Another late winner!

92nd min: Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid) red card

© Imago

Simeone appears to react to someone in the crowd after Van Dijk's goal, and he is sent off following the altercation.

Not the end to the evening that he wanted!

MAN OF THE MATCH - MOHAMED SALAH

© Imago

After some had accused Liverpool forward Salah of finally slowing down, the Egyptian reminded viewers that he is still at the peak of his powers.

While there was an element of fortune to his assist in the first half, his sixth-minute strike proved he still has the speed, technical quality and power to make an impact in the final third.

LIVERPOOL VS. ATLETICO MADRID MATCH STATS

Possession: Liverpool 56%-44% Atletico Madrid

Shots: Liverpool 20-10 Atletico Madrid

Shots on target: Liverpool 6-4 Atletico Madrid

Corners: Liverpool 7-6 Atletico Madrid

Fouls: Liverpool 7-9 Atletico Madrid

BEST STATS

WHAT NEXT?

Up next for Liverpool is a clash against city rivals Everton at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday, and they will then play Southampton in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

As for Atletico, they return to La Liga action on Sunday against hosts Mallorca, before taking on Rayo Vallecano in the league on September 24.

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