Featured Image Credit: TNT Sports
Topics: Football, Champions League, Liverpool, Laura Woods
Chris Nee
Topics: Football, Champions League, Liverpool, Laura Woods
Liverpool started the league phase of the Champions League in the manner to which they've become accustomed, winning with a goal deep into stoppage time at Anfield.
The Reds went 2-0 up against Atletico Madrid thanks to goals from Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah inside the first six minutes but were pegged back by Marcos Llorente's goal in first-half stoppage time.
Late drama was to be the theme of the night. Llorente scored again with nine minutes left to make it 2-2 but Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk headed home from a corner in the 92nd minute to bag the season's first Champions League points for Arne Slot's side.
Hostilities boiled over on the sidelines, where Atleti head coach Diego Simeone got involved in an angry altercation with a Liverpool fan.
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The repercussions from that incident have already begun and will continue in the coming days but Liverpool's focus will be on the pitch.
Van Dijk manifested their resilience but giving up a two-goal lead is not a habit Slot will be happy to tolerate.
After the game, TNT Sports anchor Laura Woods suffered an unfortunate slip of the tongue during the post-match review with pundits Michael Owen and Steve McManaman.
"A 92nd-minute winner from Liverpool captain Virgin val— Virgil van Dijk... means they pick up three points at Anfield," said Woods on the live broadcast, taking a moment in between to regain her composure.
Social media users enjoyed the moment and Woods, a consummate professional, took the slip-up in stride.
Woods is also a prolific poster on X, formerly Twitter, and demonstrated after the match her willingness to laugh at the mistake.
"No I did say this," she posted, followed by a crying-laughing emoji.
It's easy to fumble words and names and a live television broadcast is one of the places it's most likely to happen and be caught on mic.
Liverpool's captain has long been a man for the big moments and is enjoying a new lease of life at 34.
The Netherlands international has now scored 29 goals for Liverpool, many of them crucial headers in the Premier League or Champions League.
Van Dijk has won both competitions with the Reds and signed a new contract last season to end speculation about a possible departure on a free transfer.
He'll continue to lead Liverpool through a league phase fixture list that also pits them against Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Madrid, PSV, Inter Milan, Marseille and Qarabag.