LIVERPOOL: Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk headed home a last-gasp goal in stoppage time to lead Arne Slot’s men to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in the opening game of their Champions League campaign Anfield.

The game appeared headed for a draw after Marcos Llorente scored twice to pull the Spaniards back into the game – before Van Dijk’s header from a corner in the 92nd minute.

Atletico manager Diego Simeone was sent off moments later after having to be pulled away from the crowd.

Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah also scored and set up another on an entertaining evening that also saw the Reds debut of British record signing Alexander Isak.

Liverpool stormed out of the gate with two goals before the game was six minutes old. Andy Robertson struck in the fourth minute in his first start of the season when Salah’s free-kick ricocheted off him and over the line past goalkeeper Jan Oblak who was rooted to the spot.

Salah grabbed a goal of his own two minutes later when he muscled through three Atletico defenders after a quick one-two with Ryan Gravenberch, then slotted into the far corner from an angle.

But the visitors grew into the game and Llorente clawed one back with his first goal of the night on the stroke of halftime before equalising in the 81st minute with a sumptuous volley that took a deflection on its way in.

It felt like a recurring nightmare at Anfield as Llorente played the hero in 2020 against Liverpool as well, scoring twice as Atletico knocked them out of the Champions League last 16.

But this time Liverpool salvaged the victory with more late-game heroics in what is starting to feel like a habit. All four of their Premier League victories this season have required a winner in the last 10 minutes.

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