Liverpool manager Arne Slot once again found his side digging deep to secure a dramatic late victory, this time against Atletico Madrid in their Champions League league-phase opener, Softfootball reports.
For the fifth time this season, the Reds netted decisively in the closing stages, with Virgil van Dijk’s towering 92nd-minute header sealing a thrilling 3-2 win at Anfield. Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah had fired Liverpool into a two-goal lead inside six minutes, before Marcos Llorente’s brace brought Atletico level. But as has become a theme under Slot, Liverpool refused to be denied.
Speaking after the match in his post-game press conference via the team official website, Slot admitted that while he was delighted with his side’s mentality, fitness, and quality, he was particularly impressed by the influence of summer signing Florian Wirtz.
On Liverpool’s ability to find late winners this season, the coach explained:
You’re never 100 per cent sure but what I do know is we’re so fit that we’re able to push one more time. There will be games where we won’t need stoppage time, and there will probably also be games where we do and don’t succeed, but I can assure you we will always push for it. That’s the mentality this team has – but it’s not just mentality, it’s also quality. The cross from Szoboszlai and the way Virgil finished it had everything.
While most headlines focused on Liverpool’s knack for late goals, Slot wanted to shift attention to the quality of the Reds’ attacking play earlier in the game, and especially Wirtz’s contribution:
Maybe I am even a bit disappointed that we scored in the last minute, because no one talks about the attacks before half-time when Florian [Wirtz] and Alex combined to almost set up Jeremie [Frimpong], or the second-half chance with Dominik, Flo and Mo that hit the post. We had so many great attacks today.
On Wirtz’s individual performance, Slot was full of praise:
He was indeed a few times close to scoring a goal and he was also a few times close to assisting a goal – I think he created the most chances for us today. You can see he is getting fitter and adjusting more and more to us, which is normal. People forget he’s only 22 and this is his first time abroad. Everything changes when you move, and it costs energy. Add to that adapting to a new style – Leverkusen played 3-4-3, we play 4-3-3, and we ask more of him defensively. But I can see him growing more and more, and that is what you expect from a quality player. I liked his performance today a lot.
Meanwhile, during the game yesterday, Livepool posted on its official X handle a celebratory message to head coach Arne Slot who turned 47 yesterday, see below;
On Liverpool winning on his birthday, Slot added with a smile:
It’s the second year in a row I had to celebrate my birthday on a Champions League night – and the second time in a row the players gave me a nice present because we won them both. I would like to ask UEFA if next year I can celebrate my birthday with my friends and family! Another great night here at Anfield. This is what the format is about, what UEFA probably wanted; already a first game in the group stage that could have been a quarter-final or semi-final. That’s also what you saw today – us playing really well, creating chances, then facing a mentality team like Atletico. They always find a way to come back, but the good thing for us is we have the same mentality.
On whether he is thinking more about another late winner or the fact his side let a two-goal lead slip, Slot admitted:
Maybe at this moment in time the last part, although I think again it was a great game to watch not only for us as Liverpool fans, but for all the fans all around the world who love football. A game like this should not have gone to a late winner. Although it’s not easy to beat Atletico Madrid, I can come up with numerous moments where we could have scored the third one, which we didn’t. That’s maybe a bit different to the Burnley, Arsenal or Newcastle games where we didn’t create as many chances as we did tonight.
Its is no news that this season has been full of drama for Liverpool and its supporters with the team moslty leaving it late before getting the victory, Liverpool via its official X handle, posted an exclusive photo showing all the late winners the team has had this season, see below;
He also praised new signing Alexander Isak after his debut:
I was positively surprised by how fit he was during that 60 minutes, but that maybe tells you the difference between signing a 20-year-old from another league or a 25- or 26-year-old already used to playing here. He only trained two weeks but has so many games under his belt. I wasn’t surprised by his quality – that’s clear to everyone – but it’s always nice to see a player start like that. A good start, 60 minutes, and now we have to build him up from here. But I can tell you he is not going to play 90 again on Saturday.
Slot’s birthday night ended in celebration, but his reflections showed balance: pride in the team’s resilience, admiration for Wirtz’s growing influence, encouragement for Isak who made his UCL debut and first start for the club, yet also a warning that giving away early leads cannot become a habit. For Liverpool, the late drama may grab the headlines, but Slot is just as focused on building a team that can dominate games long before stoppage time.
