Liverpool and Italy winger Federico Chiesa could leave Anfield in the January transfer window to return to his homeland. (Teamtalk), external
Arne Slot is keen to bring 22-year-old Ajax defender Youri Baas to Anfield, though the Dutchman is under contract until 2028. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesEuropean football expert Julien Laurens believes Hugo Ekitike would not have signed for Liverpool had he known Alexander Isak would follow him.
"He signed after a first approach from Liverpool to Newcastle for Isak, when they closed the door," Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"That was before Isak went on strike and stopped training with them. Then Liverpool reverted to Ekitike, who was on his way to Newcastle in the first place because he was supposed to be the replacement, or to play together if nobody came in for Isak."
Ekitike joined the Reds in July and has made a solid start so far, scoring twice in the league and providing one assist.
Isak, who signed on deadline day, made his debut against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday with Ekitike dropping to the bench, and Laurens says he thought that would always be the case.
"We knew that as soon as Isak was fit, the one to be dropped was Ekitike. It was just very clear," he said. "Can they play together? Of course they can. You could play Ekitike from the start but off the left, but that's not really his position. I'm not sure how well it's going to work.
"It was just one of Ekitike and Isak [in the team] and it was never going to be Ekitike over Isak unless Isak is not fit."
Chloe Bloxam
Fan writer
Liverpool fan Chloe Bloxam says Arne Slot's side have had to "dig deep and not give up" in their opening five games of the 2025-26 season, after netting another stoppage-time winner to beat Atletico Madrid and kick off their Champions League campaign.
Speaking about Liverpool "winning by any means" and their need for last-minute winners so far this season, Bloxam said: "One of the players on the pitch has had to become a hero time and time again to get us three points, which sometimes we've deserved and sometimes we've not deserved.
"It is more than just luck. It is us putting fear into the opponents, going until the last minute and having the quality to get over the line.
"Are Liverpool playing brilliantly right now? No, absolutely not. Do Liverpool need to get better? Yes, because you can't keep relying on last-minute winners."
Find more from Chloe Bloxam on The Redmen TV, external
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on Liverpool's performance against Atletico Madrid, as Arne Slot's side squandered a two-goal lead yet still managed to find a late winner at Anfield.
Here are some of your replies:
Jordan: Let's be honest, so far this season our performances have been pretty subpar, but I've never been happier. The pure chaos and adrenaline from the way we are winning just can't be matched. I'd prefer all of these games as they have been, rather than straightforward 3-0 wins. To me, the scoreline is nowhere near as important as the entertainment!
Paula: Atletico kept their heads even after going 2-0 down and their first goal had been building for the final 10 minutes of the first half. Liverpool gave them too much space, but they didn't stop pressing. Why though, do we have to bite our nails down to the quick before we get a last-minute winner again? Was it really necessary after being two goals up?
Phil: We are struggling to break teams down, even though we have a lot of flair and offensive talent.
Ian: Once again, Liverpool put pressure on themselves with poor defending. This needs addressing. Milos Kerkez is erratic, Andy Robertson is slow and Ibou Konate had some hairy moments again. A very entertaining game, but Liverpool had plenty of chances to put it to bed.
CJ: It wasn't a polished performance but there were moments that showed how good we're going to be. We are not at our best and we are still winning. I'm loving the Champions League nights.
Evan: Mohamed Salah looked hungrier than ever. Whether it was the big European night, playing up to the occasion or feeling the competition with Alexander Isak in the team, it was the first time this season that he's looked dangerous.
*UK only
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Premier League goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer believes Liverpool's failure to put Wednesday's Champions League opener out of reach of Atletico Madrid is as big of an issue as the goals they conceded, but praised the Reds' mentality to win the game.
Arne Slot's side raced into an early 2-0 lead and spurned several big chances before the visitors scored twice to level. Captain Virgil van Dijk then crashed in a late winner.
"Whenever you're as attack-minded as Liverpool are, you're going to give chances up to the opposition," Schwarzer told the Football Daily podcast.
"Certainly against the better opposition and Atletico Madrid as we all know are hardened warriors. They know what it takes to stay in games and win games, they know how to see out results.
"It was always going to be a tough game for Liverpool. Yes, they got off to the perfect start but they didn't finish the game off - that's part of the issue.
"Whenever you're 2-0 ahead against a team like Atletico Madrid and you're comfortable and dominating without killing the game you run the risk of conceding one.
"Once you've conceded one, then you get a bit shakier and all it takes is a deflection - like we saw for the second goal - and all of a sudden you find yourself back on level terms.
"But, what Liverpool do have is determination and grit. They didn't give up. They dusted themselves off and went for it again."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Are late winners a problem or perfection for Liverpool?
Thursday's back pages unsurprisingly heavily feature Virgil van Dijk after the Liverpool captain's late header gave his side a dramatic 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in their Champions League opener.
The Mirror and Express both focus on the Reds captain leading by example to secure his side the win with a commanding header with the respective headlines 'Captain Van-tastic' and 'Captain Marvel'.
The Mail opts for the headline 'The Late Show' to reference Liverpool again leaving it late to eventually secure a win this season, while The Star also focuses on the Reds needing an injury time goal.
Phil McNulty
Chief football writer
Image source, Getty ImagesAlexander Isak got a taste of the attacking riches he will be surrounded by at Anfield, as Liverpool were 2-0 ahead before he even got his first touch in the famous red shirt.
Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in control before a typically resilient Atletico, albeit not the Champions League force they once were, clung on by their fingertips to move within sight of an unlikely point with two goals from Spain midfielder Marco Llorente.
Liverpool were stunned, but they have form for many things this season, spurning two-goal leads against Bournemouth at Anfield and away at Newcastle United before grabbing victory late on.
Isak showed some neat touches and exciting link play before running out of steam, so he was watching from the bench as Liverpool added another chapter to the nights of Champions League drama at Anfield.
As in their four Premier League wins, Liverpool went right to the wire before winning. This time it was captain Van Dijk who was the hero with a towering header in front of The Kop deep into stoppage time.
It was the cue for more wild celebrations.
Slot will have his concerns that Liverpool struggle to hold on to an advantage, but their sheer force of will made this another late, late show at Anfield.
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool boss Arne Slot spoke to TNT Sports after the late victory over Atletico Madrid:
"If you want to beat a team like Atletico, which has an unbelievable mentality, you have to beat them with their weapon as well. That is what we showed again today - that we can beat them with mentality.
"I think we should've made it easier for ourselves. At 2-0 in the first half we got more than a few chances to make a third. At 2-1 in the second half we hit the post.
"We were so close a few times and if the margin is only one goal something can always happen and it happened. But again we showed mentality because in that 10 minutes that still had to be played, we were pushing, pushing, pushing and we scored a set-piece goal."
On if complacency crept in after going 2-0 up: "It can but it didn't happen too much with us this season that we were 2-0 up after six minutes. But it is clear that if we feel and need urgency then we are unbelievable.
"Now we need to make sure we feel this urgency for 90 minutes. Don't even look at the score just feel this urgency every second."
Six of Liverpool's eight second-half goals in 2025-26 have now been scored from the 88th minute onwards
For the first time in the club's history, Liverpool named a starting XI for a game in major European competition without a single English player (this was their 418th major European match)
Rio Ngumoha became the youngest player to appear for Liverpool in a major European competition (17y 19d)
'Mentality, fitness and quality' - Slot proud of Liverpool's late winners
Liverpool are prepared to offer 50m euros (£43.35m) for 26-year-old Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, although Tottenham are also interested in the Uruguay international. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external
Birmingham City are keen to tie 14-year-old England Under-15 goalkeeper Alfie Smith down to new deal to fend off interest from Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal. (Mail), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
*UK only
Virgil van Dijk spoke to TNT Sports after scoring the late winner in the 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid:
"We kept pushing for the 3-1 but to concede a massively deflected equaliser was obviously not great. We found a way again. We were dangerous in our set-pieces. They were pretty aggressive but I'm glad I got the winner.
"Atletico are a team that never gives up, with quality players that can punish you. Eventually though, we had to keep going, show resilience and it was another great European night here.
"It is always good to get a winning start playing at home in a good game against a good opponent."
Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
Get in touch with your views here
Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies
The news Liverpool fans have been waiting for... Alexander Isak starts tonight.
It's his debut for Liverpool after the £125m deadline day transfer from Newcastle.
He is one of three changes from the Reds' 1-0 win over Burnley with starts too for Andy Robertson and Jeremie Frimpong, with Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Hugo Ekitike dropping to the bench.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Robertson, Van Dijk, Konate, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak, Salah.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Endo, Kerkez, Bradley, Mac Allister, Leoni, Ekitike, Ngumoha, Danns.
England midfielder Conor Gallagher starts for Atletico Madrid, with Antoine Griezmann named up front for Diego Simeone's side.
Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak, Galán, Lenglet, Le Normand, Llorente, Gonzalez, Gallagher, Barrios, Simeone, Griezmann, Raspadori.
There are six games in the Champions League on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Kick-off times 20:00 BST unless stated.
Olympiacos v Pafos (17:45)
Slavia Prague v Bodo/Glimt (17:45)
Ajax v Inter Milan
Bayern Munich v Chelsea - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Liverpool v Atletico Madrid
Paris St-Germain v Atalanta
Follow all of the action and reaction here
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Bayern Munich v Chelsea".
There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.
Liverpool are considering versatile Barcelona and Uruguay Ronald Araujo, 26, as a replacement for Ibrahima Konate should the centre-back leave for Real Madrid. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
