Liverpool

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".

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, speaking about Wednesday's Champions League opponents Liverpool in his pre-match news conference:

"They are direct, they have very quick transitions, they interpret the game in a very simple way to get players into the box, they use their wide players and they have a wonderful centre-back who can knock the ball around.

"This simplicity of the game is something that maybe some people don't see, how hard they work, how good their footballers are and their manager did wonderful, extraordinary things last season.

"We will face a tough opponent but we have the intention of bringing the game to where we want it to go. I am looking at getting better, playing a fantastic opponent in a stadium I love.

"We will try to hurt them in the game whenever we can."

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says new signing Alexander Isak's "quality" has been clear "since the first session" he spent with the team.

£125m British record addition Isak could make his Reds debut in Wednesday's Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid at Anfield, with head coach Arne Slot confirming there is "definitely a chance" he features.

"Very good impression, very eager," Van Dijk said about the Sweden striker in Liverpool's pre-match news conference.

"Obviously the quality he's been showing already since the first session.

"Only positives and off the pitch as well, we're having conversations - I spoke to him during the international break once everything was sorted.

"It's now about getting him as fit as possible and to understand each one of us as quickly as possible. How we train, how we press, our set pieces, so it's been a good week for him and let's see [on Wednesday]."

Van Dijk was complimentary of Isak but also stressed fellow new signing Hugo Ekitike - who has scored three goals in his first five games - was on the same level.

"He [Isak] is a clinical finisher," he added.

"If you look at his finishing skills - heading, left foot, top corners - he's the complete striker at the moment.

"You can say the same for Hugo. They're a little bit different but not so much, they're very comfortable on the ball with link-up play, they have pace and that's what's being asked of for the modern-day striker.

"Both are a handful and that's obviously good that they're on my side now."

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid at Anfield (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Slot said there is "definitely a chance" £125m signing Alexander Isak could make his Liverpool debut on Wednesday as he is in the squad but he is "100% sure he will not play 90 minutes".

• Pushed on whether the Sweden striker could start, he added: "The only thing we're sure of is he will not play 90."

• Curtis Jones will return to training on Wednesday and Slot said the hope is he will be ready to face Everton on Saturday.

• On the Reds' impressive start to the season: "We are far above my expectations during the summer. We all know what happened this summer and for us to be on 12 points from these fixtures is so much more than I expected, especially after so many changes in our group. I think we can do better but we're not going to face Newcastle away and Arsenal at home every time."

• Slot said playing Atletico to begin their European campaign is "a difficult one", adding: "They have had so many years with Diego Simeone and even able to win the league twice when you face Real Madrid and Barcelona. They are a team that is a difficult one to play against because of their mentality, team performance and quality. Last time I faced them, I still wake up at night sometimes thinking about it."

• How can Andy Robertson help new left-back Milos Kerkez? "Brilliantly well. I think he played well [against Burnley]. Milos started the game not brilliantly well but well, and we had to take him off. Then you had Andy Robertson to replace him and he came in like he'd never been doing anything else."

• On Jeremie Frimpong returning from injury off the bench on Sunday against the Clarets: "In every position we have a lot of competition and he can play in many positions. Let's see if if he plays [on Wednesday] and where he's going to play."

Follow all of Tuesday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Jamie asked: Florian Wirtz's form is going under the radar a bit. For £116m, you want an instant impact. A handful of games in and he hasn't produced one standout performance yet. At what stage do we start to question his Premier League ability?

Phil answered: He has been quiet, but I actually thought there were real signs of Florian Wirtz settling in for Liverpool at Burnley on Sunday. He linked the play a lot and seemed to be developing an understanding with those around him.

It's early days and even the best players need time to settle and fit into a new team. I certainly would not be questioning his Premier League ability. I am sure he will come good and thought the signs were there at Turf Moor.

• Get news alerts on your Premier League club

Image source, Getty Images

Opta's supercomputer has Liverpool as favourites to win this season's Champions League.

The model estimates the probability of each match outcome (win, draw or loss) by using betting market odds and Opta power rankings. Both these areas are based on historical and recent team performances and the computer runs 10,000 simulations to create its predictions.

Arne Slot's side win the tournament in 20.4% of simulations and finished top of the inaugural league phase last season.

However, they were knocked out in the last 16 by eventual winners Paris St-Germain.

Image source, Opta

Slot's side are again heavy favourites to fill one of the top spots in the league phase table.

The Reds finished first in 23.9% of our supercomputer's league phase simulations, in the top four 58.9% of the time, and were automatic qualifiers for the knockout stage by finishing in the top eight in 79.5% of the time.

Opta ranks the likeliest threats to Liverpool as Arsenal (16.0%), and PSG (12.1%).

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Ryan Gravenberch has started this season even better than he did the last.

Arne Slot transformed the supposedly attacking midfielder into a number six when he arrived at the club and Gravenberch was one of the big success stories of his debut season - winning the Premier League young player of the year award.

But at the beginning of 2025-26, he has been even better than before.

Against Burnley at Turf Moor, he completely ran the show. His ability to wriggle through a press in midfield is the best in the country. There is no midfielder with his technical ability in tight spaces. In one moment, Gravenberch scooped a ball over a Burnley player's head before recycling it to a team-mate.

It was utterly unnecessary and totally brilliant, demonstrating the sheer confidence he is feeling right now.

Manchester City have Rodri, Arsenal have Declan Rice and Chelsea have Moises Caicedo, but given Gravenberch is only 23, I would not swap him for any of them.

He also suits Slot's style perfectly, as Liverpool's defenders can pass to him with his back to goal and there is no worry about his ability to retain possession.

A phenomenal player. Alexis Mac Allister, Dom Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones are competing to play alongside him. His place is guaranteed.

The one worry would be about losing him to injury, but that is the same with Virgil van Dijk at the back.

If you are that good, nobody will be good enough to replace you anyway.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

• Not a Liverpool fan? Find your Premier League club on BBC Sport

Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton, 21, is keen to sign for Liverpool despite interest from Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Manchester City are set to rival Liverpool for the free transfer signing of 25-year-old England and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi next summer, when his contract is due to expire. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk hopes Alexander Isak will start making contributions to the team's cause as soon as possible, as the striker builds up his fitness before a potential debut against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Isak, who joined for a British record fee from Newcastle on deadline day, missed some of pre-season while the transfer saga played out and he did not feature in Sunday's 1-0 Premier League win against Burnley.

"Obviously it was a very difficult time, negotiations go on behind the scenes and the whole team and everyone connected to the club was very pleased that the deal got done," said centre-back Van Dijk.

"Now he is here, he's part of the family.

"It is time for him to be as fit as he can as quickly as possible, and be important for us with goals, with assists, with link-up play and with what Hugo [Ekitike] has already been showing and doing, pushing each other and bringing us to the next level."

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

It has been a case of "not how you start, but how you finish" for Liverpool so far this season.

One of four Premier League sides yet to score in the opening 30 minutes of a game, they have won all four of their matches thanks to a winning goal in the final 10 minutes or later, setting a new record in the competition.

The Reds have scored five goals in total in the final 10 minutes of Premier League matches, at least two more than any other team.

Even at this early stage, it is already a contrast to last season, when they won just three league games with winners scored in the last 10 minutes. They had just one game-winning goal in the 90th minute or later, whereas they have already had two in their opening four games of 2025-26.

The difference so far this season is possibly that they have not been at their best and have needed to push harder in the final stages of games. Last season, they were often well enough ahead not to need late winners - 16 of their 25 league wins were by two or more goals.

Their run of scoring late winners will surely dry up, but the worry for their rivals is that it is because they might not need them.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson says Milos Kerkez "needs to keep going and keep his confidence" after being substituted in the 38th minute against Burnley.

Kerkez was booked in the 22nd minute for simulation and head coach Arne Slot opted to replace the summer signing for vice-captain Robertson to avoid the chance of them going down to ten men.

"He [Kerkez] is only young and I think we forget that," said the Scotsman. "You try to help them as much as you can but you want to put pressure on them and you want to play games.

"He will be the starting left-back for Liverpool in the future and it's up to me to push him this season and help him improve.

"He just needs to keep working hard and not let this affect him - which it won't as he's a confident lad, and I'll help him as much as I can.

"It's a massive jump. I came from Hull and he's come from Bournemouth, and it's probably quite similar. There are a lot more eyes on you in a Liverpool jersey than at those two clubs.

"He has transitioned well. There's a lot of information and a lot of different ways of playing, and he just needs to keep going and keep his confidence.

"I have no doubt in the future he will be a fantastic left-back for Liverpool and that's the main thing."

Listen to more from Robertson on our Liverpool feed on BBC Sounds