Virgil van Dijk’s late goal has powered Liverpool to a thrilling 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid to kick off their Champions League campaign on Wednesday night.
The Reds led 2-0 after just five minutes before Diego Simeone’s side pulled it back to level the scores and eye a draw, only for van Dijk to rescue Liverpool with his stoppage time header.
In what is becoming a pattern this season, Arne Slot’s side allowed a two-goal lead to slip before producing another dramatic finish.
For the fifth successive time, they scored a winner later than the 83rd minute with their captain heading home a corner two minutes into the additional period.
British-record signing Alexander Isak’s much-anticipated debut earlier did not live to expectation as Liverpool’s old guard got them off to a flying start.
The £125 million deadline-day transfer from Newcastle was surprisingly given a start after just 18 minutes of football for Sweden, having missed pre-season with his former club.
But while he was getting up to speed, Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah were putting the hosts two goals up inside six minutes.
However, for the third time in five matches they allowed a 2-0 lead to slip only for Van Dijk to make it a happy 47th birthday for head coach Slot.
