Liverpool edge five-goal thriller against Atlético

Liverpool marked their 50th European campaign with a dramatic 3-2 win over Atlético Madrid at Anfield, spoiling Jan Oblak’s 500th appearance for the Spanish side in the most painful way — a 92nd-minute winner from Virgil van Dijk.

Despite pre-match statements from Arne Slot suggesting otherwise, Alexander Isak made his long-awaited debut for Liverpool — and although he didn’t find the net, he certainly made an impression. His first-half effort narrowly missed the post, and his second, a low drive, was comfortably saved by Oblak.

But by the time Isak found his feet, the Reds were already flying. Inside just six minutes, Mohamed Salah had torched Atlético’s defence twice. The opener came in the 2nd minute after Ryan Gravenberch won a free-kick on the edge of the area. Salah’s low effort took a wicked deflection off Andy Robertson, wrong-footing Oblak for 1–0. Just minutes later, Salah exchanged a quick one-two with Gravenberch and, under pressure from two defenders, coolly slotted home for 2–0.

Atlético Madrid were stunned — it felt like a knockout punch before they’d even warmed up. Yet the visitors slowly found rhythm. Marcos Llorente, a man with history at Anfield, reignited the contest in first-half stoppage time. Latching onto a smart pass from Giacomo Raspadori, he squeezed a shot into the bottom corner to make it 2–1.

The second half saw Liverpool revert to a classic weapon: the counter-attack. Salah nearly struck again after a sharp assist from Florian Wirtz, only to rattle the post. Moments later, Hugo Ekitike blazed over the bar following another inch-perfect ball from the German midfielder.

Then came déjà vu. In the 81st minute, Llorente — the same man who knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League at Anfield back in 2020 — struck again. This time, a deflected effort off Alexis Mac Allister beat Alisson to bring Atlético level. 2–2, and it looked like Oblak’s 500th match might end in a hard-fought draw.

But Liverpool had one last punch to throw — as they often do. In the 92nd minute, after a series of corners, Dominik Szoboszlai delivered a perfect ball into the box. Rising above everyone, Van Dijk powered home a bullet header, ripping the roof off Anfield and crushing Atlético’s hopes.

2025-26 UEFA Champions League

Liverpool - Atletico Madrid 3:2 (2:1)
Goals: Robertson A., 4 (1:0); Salah, 6 (2:0); Llorente M., 45 (2:1); Llorente M., 81 (2:2); van Dijk, 92 (3:2)

Liverpool: Alisson; van Dijk; Konate; Robertson A. (Kerkez M., 86); Frimpong J. (Bradley C., 58); Gravenberch R.; Wirtz (Ngumoha, 74); Szoboszlai; Salah; Isak (Ekitike, 58); Gakpo (Mac Allister A., 58)
Substitution: Bradley C. (from 58); Mac Allister A. (from 58); Ekitike (from 58); Ngumoha (from 74); Kerkez M. (from 86)
Bench: Mamardashvili; Woodman; Leoni; Gomez; Endo W.; Danns
Yellow Cards: Bradley C. 70

Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Galán J.; Lenglet; Le Normand; Gallagher C. (Molina N., 61); Barrios P.; Llorente M.; Gonzalez N. (Pubill, 76); Griezmann (Sørloth, 61); Simeone G-o; Raspadori (Koke, 52)
Substitution: Koke (from 52); Molina N. (from 61); Sørloth (from 61); Pubill (from 76)
Bench: Musso; Hancko; Ruggeri; Martín Car.
Yellow Cards: Le Normand 32; Lenglet 45