Liverpool kicked off their Champions League season with an exciting 3-2 home win over Atletico Madrid, proving their ability to fight until the very end. 

The team rushed to a 2-0 lead early in the game with goals from Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, but a determined Atletico fought back with two goals from Marcos Llorente. 

Just when the game seemed headed for a draw, captain Virgil van Dijk delivered the winning goal in stoppage time, giving new manager Arne Slot a dramatic birthday gift.

The match ended in chaos as Atletico coach Diego Simeone was shown a red card after arguing with a fan, highlighting the extreme tension of the contest.

The match began with a blistering pace, as Liverpool raced into a two-goal advantage within the opening six minutes. 

Left-back Andy Robertson broke the deadlock in the fourth minute, deflecting a Mohamed Salah free kick past Jan Oblak. 

Salah, showcasing the sharp form that saw him score 34 goals last season, then doubled the lead just two minutes later, coolly slotting home after a neat exchange with Ryan Gravenberch.

Despite the early shock, Atletico—who famously eliminated Liverpool here in 2020—demonstrated their famed resilience. 

Marcos Llorente, a familiar tormentor at Anfield, clawed a goal back right before halftime, poking in a finish following a scramble. 

The Spanish side pressed hard in the second half, and Llorente struck again in the 81st minute, his volley deflecting off Ibrahima Konate to level the score at 2-2 and silence the home crowd. 

Liverpool briefly rued a missed chance just before the equalizer when Salah struck the post after linking up with debutant Florian Wirtz.

All eyes were on Alexander Isak, the £125 million British record signing, who was handed his first Liverpool start after a delayed integration into the squad. 

Though his performance, lasting 58 minutes, showed understandable ‘rustiness’ following four months without a competitive start, the Swedish striker displayed promising flashes, including an off-target shot after linking with Wirtz and some slick hold-up play.

Manager Arne Slot praised the number nine’s readiness, stating, “I was positively surprised by how fit he was during the 60 minutes.” 

Slot, celebrating his birthday with a second consecutive Champions League night victory, highlighted the team’s relentless attitude after the game. 

“If you want to beat a team like Atletico, you have to beat them with their weapon, which is mentality, and that is what we showed again today,” he told TNT Sports. 

The victory marks the fifth consecutive match this season where Liverpool has found a winning goal in the 83rd minute or later, reinforcing the squad’s “never say die” spirit.

With the match ticking into stoppage time, Liverpool’s pressure paid off when Virgil van Dijk leaped to meet Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner, powering a header past Oblak to make it 3-2 and send Anfield into raptures. 

The celebration was immediately followed by touchline chaos as Diego Simeone, reportedly incensed by repeated insults throughout the match, became embroiled in a heated confrontation with a fan behind the dugout.

Stewards intervened in the flare-up before referee Maurizio Mariani ultimately dismissed the Argentine coach with a red card. 

Speaking through an interpreter post-match, a frustrated Simeone explained his reaction: “When they scored the third goal, he turned around and insulted me. I’m a person; I’m human.” 

He added that he had been “getting insulted all game” and accepted that his reaction, though “unjustifiable,” was a result of the constant provocation. 

The incident is expected to be reviewed by UEFA.

The dramatic win places Liverpool atop their league-phase group, setting the tone for a challenging campaign as they prepare for a Premier League derby clash against Everton on Sunday.