Champions League, Liverpool pip Atletico Madrid 3-2 at Anfield: Stats
Champions League: Liverpool Edge Atletico Madrid 3-2 at Anfield
By Rajdeep Saha | Sep 18, 2025 | 03:17 AM
In a thrilling UEFA Champions League clash on Matchday 1 of the 2025-26 season, Liverpool narrowly defeated Atletico Madrid 3-2 at Anfield. The match was decided by a stunning stoppage-time winner from Virgil van Dijk, sealing an exciting victory for the Reds.
Early Liverpool Dominance
Liverpool started the game brightly, quickly taking control. Andy Robertson opened the scoring by deflecting a Mohamed Salah free-kick into the net. Just six minutes later, Salah himself doubled Liverpool’s lead, leaving Atletico manager Diego Simeone visibly frustrated on the sidelines.
Atletico Fight Back
Despite going two goals down, Atletico Madrid kept their hopes alive. Marco Llorente pulled one back in first-half stoppage time, reducing the deficit to 2-1. Llorente then leveled the match in the 81st minute, scoring his second goal of the night and setting up a nail-biting finish.
Van Dijk’s Dramatic Winner
With the game seemingly heading for a draw, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk stepped up in the 92nd minute, scoring a brilliant stoppage-time winner. This marked an incredible start to the season for Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who has now witnessed his team score late winners in each of their last five matches.
Managerial Fallout
The match ended on a sour note for Atletico as their manager Diego Simeone was sent off following Van Dijk’s late goal. The dismissal came amid Simeone’s frustration over the loss, underscoring Liverpool’s dominance in this high-stakes encounter.
Salah’s Milestones
Mohamed Salah, playing his 407th match for Liverpool across all competitions, continues to impress. He has now scored 248 goals and recorded 112 assists for the Reds, totaling 260 goal involvements. This season, Salah has netted three goals in six matches.
In the Champions League, Salah has scored 48 goals—45 of them for Liverpool—equalling legendary strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Andriy Shevchenko in terms of UCL goals.
Match Statistics
- Liverpool had 20 attempts with 6 shots on target.
- Atletico registered 10 attempts with 4 shots on target.
- The Reds dominated possession with 56% ball control and an 89% pass accuracy.
- Liverpool earned 7 corners compared to Atletico’s 6.
This thrilling victory sets an exciting tone for Liverpool’s Champions League campaign under Arne Slot, as they look to build momentum in the season ahead.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/liverpool-down-atletico-in-champions-league/story
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