Liverpool 3-2 Atletico Madrid: Van Dijk heads late winner

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was the hero with a thumping last-minute header as the Reds got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start against a typically tough Atletico Madrid.

Arne Slot’s side scored twice in the opening six minutes before the Spanish side roared back to level.

Mohamed Salah hit a free-kick that cannoned in off the shins of Andy Robertson, before Salah slalomed through to score a superb second early on.

But after that lightning start the Reds struggled against Diego Simeone’s dogged side – with £125m man Alexander Isak largely shut out on his Liverpool debut.

Marcos Llorente toe-poked into the far corner at the end of the first half to inject some nerves into the Anfield atmosphere.

Salah hit the post in the second half but it was the Spanish side who saw most of the ball – and Llorente equalised with a fine volley in the 81st minute.

The midfielder has scored four goals in two Champions League appearances at Anfield – in his other 43 games in the competition, he’s scored three goals.

That looked to have securerd a point but Van Dijk popped up to win it, and Atleti boss Diego Simeone was sent off in the aftermath.

As with every other game so far this season, Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were not at their best but got the win.