Liverpool 3-2 Atletico Madrid: Virgil van Dijk the hero as Reds leave it late to snatch Champions League win | OneFootball

Star striker was making his eagerly-anticipated debut

Liverpool left it late in their first Champions League game of the season as Virgil van Dijk rose highest to power home an injury-time winner and seal a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

Arne Slot, celebrating his 47th birthday, got three points on the board in the most dramatic of fashions, after the hosts had threatened to run riot on Merseyside.

Andy Robertson opened the scoring - although he knew nothing about it - when Mohamed Salah’s free-kick cannoned in off the left-back, and Salah then had his goal just two minutes later, neatly combining with Ryan Gravenberch to stroke home past Jan Oblak.

Alexander Isak made his debut after his £125million move from Newcastle, and played 57 minutes before being replaced by Hugo Ekitike.

The Premier League champions looked in cruise control as the first half wore on, and they had cause for concern when the Swedish international went down following a crunching challenge from former Real Sociedad team-mate Robin Le Normand, but he shook off the pain to continue.

The former Newcastle striker tested Oblak with a couple of attempt as he tried his utmost to notch a goal on his bow, but he ultimately went without.

Marcos Llorente continued his hot scoring form at Anfield as he prodded home in first-half stoppage time, before he levelled late on in the second period as Atleti looked to have stolen an unlikely point.

Van Dijk had the last laugh, however, as he planted a header into the corner to spark scenes of jubilation in the Kop.