Liverpool produced a heart-stopping finish at Anfield to beat Atlético Madrid 3-2 in the Champions League, thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time header from Virgil van Dijk. Mohamed Salah had earlier given the Reds a flying start, scoring and assisting inside the game’s first six minutes, only for Atlético’s Marcos Llorente to rally his side back into contention.
The contest swung several times: a handball call against Clement Lenglet briefly raised hopes of a penalty, but VAR overturned it; Llorente’s curler from outside the box levelled matters late in the second half. Then came the climax—Simeone was sent off in the dying moments, setting the stage for van Dijk’s corner-header that kissed the post and nestled in. Anfield erupted.
Drama, mystery, sparks. Was this the perfect example of persistence winning the day, or one of those rare matches that hinge on luck and raw nerve? Can Atlético feel aggrieved or was Liverpool simply more clinical when it mattered? And what does this say about their Champions League credentials this season?
