Liverpool boss says Reds gave Atletico Madrid a taste of their own medicine with strong fightback as Van Dijk’s stoppage time-winner helps English champs emerge 3-2 victors
Arne Slot. Pic/AFP
Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time winner helped Liverpool secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in their Champions League clash on Wednesday.
Liverpool looked on course to wipe the floor with the struggling Spanish giants after scoring twice in the opening six minutes. Mohamed Salah outshone Alexander Isak on his first Liverpool start as his free-kick deflected in off Andy Robertson (4th minute) before the Egyptian fired home himself (6th min).
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk celebrates his goal vs Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday. Pic/Getty Images
However, Atletico Madrid produced a stirring response through Marcos Llorente’s brace (45+3rd min and 81st min) — he was also the scourge of Liverpool five years ago as Atletico came from 0-2 down to win 3-2 at Anfield in a contentious last-16 tie. This time though, it was the Reds who dug deep to come
out on top.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot praised his team’s never-say-die attitude, which mirrored a trait Atletico Madrid is known to possess. “If you want to beat a team like Atletico, which has an unbelievable mentality, you have to beat them with their own weapon. That is what we showed again today — that we can beat them with mentality,” said Slot.
However, he also lamented his team’s inability to put the game to bed early on with their myriad chances. “A game like this should not have gone to a late game winner. We had so many great attacks today, where we could have scored the third goal earlier,” said Slot.
Tempers flared in the aftermath of Van Dijk’s header as Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone was shown the red card after being involved in a verbal spat with a Liverpool fan. “In the same way we fight against racism, we should look at this too because it is not easy to be insulted during the entire match. My reaction isn’t justifiable, but do you know what it is like to be insulted for 90 minutes?” said an emotional Simeone.
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