Liverpool Continue to Clutch in Champions League Win | OneFootball

It’s been the storyline of the Premier League season. A shaky Liverpool looks unconvincing on the pitch, but after the final whistle pockets the three points. It happened in their opener against Bournemouth, when they allowed the Cherries to draw level before hitting two late scores. They pipped Newcastle in the 10th minute of stoppage, and Burnley in the 5th from the penalty spot. In four league matches so far, their game winners have all come after the 82nd minute.

Some call it luck. But this is a team that knows how to clutch.

Liverpool 3 – 2 Atlético Madrid

One major question before their Champions League opener against Atlético Madrid was whether this script would continue to play as written.

By the sixth minute they were up two goals, both courtesy of Mohamed Salah. It appeared that duck had been broken, but then Marcos Llorente extended his toe and poked the ball into the net. It appeared to many that Antoine Greizmann, obviously offside, was blocking Alison’s view, but VAR declined to intervene.

It was a bit deflating, but Liverpool emerged from the dressing room on the front foot and continued pressuring Madrid. In the 66th minute, Salah had the ball and an open goal, and struck the post! In the 72nd they had three players on the counter and inexplicably couldn’t find the net. Exact quote from my match notes:” Gah!! How does LIV not score on that attack! I hope this doesn’t haunt them.“

Cue the Pathos

Nine minutes later, Llorente hit a hopeful volley from just outside the box. Sure as death and taxes, his shot deflected off Andy Roberston and into the net. My fellow Hooligan Gary Striker slacked me: “Simeone shit houser! Liverpool leaky defense!” I retorted:

From Hot Take to Reality

Sure enough, one minute thirty seconds into stoppage time Dominik Szoboszlai stood over a corner. He whipped it towards the penalty spot, where Virgil van Dijk leapt straight into the air and headed it home. It’s a scene we’ve witnessed a half-dozen times, but rarely in such a critical moment.

Anfield exploded in ecstasy. Madrid skipper Diego Simeone, goaded by some choice Scouser shithousery, bumrushed the crowd itching for a scrap. He was shown a straight red and missed two more moments of drama: Hugo Ekitiké’s 94th minute miss that would have truly sealed the game, and Madrid’s Alexander Sørloth, whose 96th minute header was saved by Alison.

This was their fourth stoppage time goal in five games, and the third winner.

Like I said: Liverpool is a team that knows how to clutch.