Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics:Â Football, Liverpool, Champions League
Chris Nee
Liverpool needed a stoppage time winner from Virgil van Dijk to beat Atletico Madrid after giving up a two-goal lead at Anfield.
The Reds banked three Champions League points after their opening league phase win. It was dramatic enough in its own right but also made a little piece of history.
Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah scored inside the first six minutes before a Marcos Llorente double threatened to leave Arne Slot's side ruing two points dropped.
Captain Virgil van Dijk popped up with a headed goal in the second minute of time added on and Liverpool got off to a winning start in the league phase, in which they finished top of the single table last season.
Advert
Liverpool's win was the third for a Premier League side over a La Liga one this week. It's not a fact Slot will much care about but it's a fact nonetheless.
According to Opta, this is the first time three English teams have beaten Spanish opposition in a single Champions League group stage or league phase matchday.
Arsenal got the ball rolling with a 2-0 win over Athletic Club in Tuesday's early kick-off. The Gunners left it late at San Mames but goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard got the job done in Bilbao.
Tuesday's fixtures also took Spanish opposition to north London, where Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur defeated Villarreal by a single own goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Liverpool's last-gasp winner made it three and there could yet be a fourth.
This is a rare three-day match week in the Champions League and two of England's record six participants are still to play.
On Thursday, England and Spain meet again at St James' Park, where Newcastle United take on Barcelona, their most familiar opponents in Europe's premier club competition.
Thursday's other match involving a Premier League team will also be a home game as Manchester City welcome Kevin De Bruyne and Napoli back to the Etihad Stadium along with former Manchester United men Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund.
Chelsea travelled to Germany for their league phase opener, losing 3-1 to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.