Van Dijk’s late header earns Liverpool dramatic win against Atlético Madrid

Liverpool led 2-0 early on but Marcos Llorente scored twice to peg them back – only for Virgil van Dijk to secure victory amid more late drama

It should have been a lot easier than this for Liverpool but the 92nd‑minute roar to celebrate Virgil van Dijk’s winner against Atlético Madrid made the hardship worthwhile. This is what everyone expects of Liverpool this season; the captain’s header was only their third latest decisive goal in five straight victories.

Arne Slot’s side have won every Premier League game so far with goals scored after the 80th minute. Liverpool looked as if they wanted to do things differently in the Champions League and were two goals ahead within six minutes thanks to Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah. If they thought they had done the business before anyone had broken a sweat, they were very much mistaken. Atlético’s goals came from an unlikely source in the full-back-cum-midfielder Marcos Llorente, who now has four Champions League goals at Anfield to his name.

There was greater concern on the faces of supporters than at Burnley on Sunday but they know their team are masters in the art of going until the end. Van Dijk rose highest and powered the ball past Jan Oblak to test the foundations of the Kop and put their Champions League start on a par with their domestic form.

Diego Simeone fumed at the referee within a split second of the net rippling for a fifth time. The Atlético head coach offered general frustration in the direction of Maurizio Mariani but there was no obvious evidence why he was upset. The Italian was not up for a debate and sent him off. Simeone should have been more annoyed about Alexander Sørloth heading over a glorious chance to equalise. The Argentinian then confronted a home supporter before being escorted down the tunnel by stewards. He said he was insulted on the touchline.

Atlético had started aggressively, in a classic 4-4-2 formation. They wanted to frustrate and irritate Liverpool but that cunning plan headed down the Mersey in the fourth minute when Ryan Gravenberch was clumsily tripped on the edge of the box. Salah went with pure power from the free-kick and Robertson sprang a surprise when the ball ricocheted in off his calf.

If luck and ferocity brought the opener, skill and guile made the second. The superb Gravenberch was once again at the centre of it, exchanging passes with Salah, ­laying the ball into the Egyptian’s path having bustled through the defence. ­Delicate touches got Salah into the perfect position to slot under Oblak. It felt like the job was done.

Atlético did not look in the same league as Liverpool, whose confidence grew as the passes fizzed between red shirts. Alexander Isak, the British record signing, made his Liverpool debut but it was Salah and Gravenberch who were at the heart of the hosts’ performance. Salah could have added two more before the break.

Liverpool did not need help but Mariani tried to offer some by bizarrely witnessing a phantom handball by Clément Lenglet from Jeremie Frimpong’s ball into the box. A word in the ear and a check on the monitor forced the referee to overturn his original decision and return Simeone’s blood pressure to something closer to normal.

There were glimmers of hope for Atlético, who threatened on the counter but without the injured Julián Alvarez they could not find anyone to convert their chances until Llorente popped up in first-half injury-time to reduce the deficit through a schoolyard toe-poke that when through Ibrahima Konaté’s legs.

Isak’s involvement was limited, his most notable action coming when Robin Le Normand’s studs caught him on top of the foot. The centre-back was booked for his recklessness, while Isak was given treatment and a few moments of rest to get his breath back. He received a huge roar when he got to his feet; the fans are desperate for a heroic new No 9. He returned for the second half but looked tired and shook hands with his replacement Hugo Ekitiké in the 58th minute. The substitute’s task was to help finish the fixture as a contest but Liverpool struggled to test Oblak, with Salah’s shot against a post the closest they came to making it 3-1.

With one goal in it, Atlético offered energy in abundance. Their hard work paid off when Llorente, who moved into midfield, watched a looping ball land perfectly on his foot, allowing him to volley at goal from 20 yards. It was Atlético’s turn to enjoy some good fortune, as Alexis Mac Allister deflected the shot beyond Alisson to silence Anfield, apart from one small corner, who thought they were about to leave with a point.

Liverpool, however, are not interested in giving up. When Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up to lift a late corner into the box, anticipation had been replaced with desperation but the emotional effort was rewarded by Van Dijk. Slot won his first seven Champions League games last season and with Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Madrid, Inter and PSV to come before Christmas, this victory was vital to build momentum.