Liverpool continued their remarkable streak of scoring late winners in their opening Champions League game of the season against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night
Arne Slot manager / head coach of Liverpool
Arne Slot saw Liverpool's remarkable run continue against Atletico Madrid(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Liverpool have a perfect record in the early stages of the 2025/26 season, having shown impressive resilience. Arne Slot’s side are top of the Premier League after four wins from four, while their 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night ensured a positive start to their Champions League campaign.
The Reds spent £450million in the summer transfer window and have started their title defence with a new-look squad. Alexander Isak, a £125m signing from Newcastle, made his debut against Atleti, while Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike have also featured after arriving in the summer.
Despite all the change, Liverpool have continued on their merry way under Slot this season. Yet this season’s wins have come in a different manner. That is because they have needed late goals to seal each and every one of their five victories this season.
It started on the opening weekend, when Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah turned a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth into a 4-2 win. The most dramatic of the lot came next, with teenager Rio Ngumoha scoring in the 100th minute to down Newcastle 3-2.
Dominik Szoboszlai thundered in a long-range free-kick in the 83rd minute against Arsenal to seal a 1-0 win before a 93rd-minute Salah penalty saw off Burnley by the same scoreline. Not satisfied with doing it in the league, Virgil van Dijk then headed in a 92nd-minute corner to see off an Atleti comeback. Late shows have become a staple for Liverpool this season, but that hasn’t always been the case.
In fact, they only scored four stoppage-time goals in 48 league and Champions League games last season – and two of those came in the same game at Brentford. They did score 13 goals after the 80th minute in the Premier League, but four teams managed more.
Speaking in January after draws against Newcastle, Fulham, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest over a run of seven games, Slot demanded his side deliver some late winners. “One of the things I would like us to do better in the second half of the season than the first half, although it wasn't necessary that many times, is to make a late goal winner,” Slot said before they faced Brentford.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates after scoring their side's third goal in injury time during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Anfield on September 17, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk headed in a corner in stoppage time to seal another late win
“Hopefully we don't come to these situations a lot but we definitely, if we are coming in those situations, have one, two or three times a moment where we do score in the last minute of the game when we deserve it.”
They have now done just what he asked. Slot believes it is no fluke and credits his squad’s fitness levels, concentration and determination for their streak of late winners. “There will be games where we are 2-0 up after six minutes, then we will score a third and won't need stoppage time to get a late winner,” he said on Wednesday.
Rio Ngumoha celebrates a goal
Rio Ngumoha scored the winning goal against Newcastle United in the 100th minute
“There will also be games where we need one in the last minute and we won't get it. But our mentality is we will always push. It's also about how fit and how well prepared we are that we are able to push one more time.”
Their run of late goals is in keeping with Liverpool’s history: the club now has 47 winners after the 90th minute in the Premier League, more than Arsenal on 34 and United on 33. Liverpool will try to add to their collection when they host Everton in the Merseyside Derby on Saturday morning.
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