Boss Arne Slot lauded Liverpool’s mentality after Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time header clinched a 3-2 Champions League win in opposition to Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
The Premier League champions let slip a two-goal lead after efforts from Andy Robertson and Mo Salah have been cancelled out by Marcos Llorente’s double earlier than Van Dijk headed dwelling within the second minute of added time.
Slot instructed TNT Sports activities: “If you wish to beat a group like Atletico, which is thought and has an unbelievable mentality, you need to beat them with their very own weapon as nicely and that’s mentality.
“I believe that’s what we confirmed once more immediately, that we are able to beat them additionally by mentality. However I believe we should always have made it simpler for ourselves.”
Slot handed British report £125million signing Alexander Isak his first Liverpool look by together with him in his beginning line-up and was delighted with the Swede’s contribution.
The Dutchman, who celebrated victory on his forty seventh birthday, mentioned: “Significantly as a result of I believe within the 60 minutes he performed, he gave the impression to be fairly match to me so it wasn’t as if, after 10 minutes, he was already very drained.
“He might simply play at this stage fairly nicely in order that was probably the most optimistic factor and that he can play soccer and that he’s a pleasure to observe.
“That’s not a shock to me however he was perhaps fitter than I anticipated.”
Slot was not sure whether or not Isak will begin once more on Saturday at Anfield in opposition to Merseyside rivals Everton.
He added: “I’m actually completely satisfied he might begin immediately. That’s why we didn’t play him in opposition to Burnley. He was good immediately and when Hugo (Ekitike) got here in, he was an enormous issue additionally.
“Now we have two nice quantity nines and we’re going to make use of them, each of them, all through the entire interval they’re right here.”
Robertson, credited with the opener after Salah’s fourth-minute free-kick deflected in off the defender, additionally felt his facet’s win ought to have been extra comfy.
He instructed TNT Sport: “I believe we have to perhaps get again to profitable a bit easier and a bit simpler.
“Clearly it’s a terrific factor to have been in a position to hold going proper to the top however once you’re 2-0 up and also you’re enjoying so nicely within the first half, it ought to have been a extra comfy night time.”
On Isak’s long-awaited debut, Robertson added: “I believed he was glorious. He’s not likely had a pre season, not had plenty of video games since final season, however I believed, particularly the primary half, he was glorious.
“Naturally he received drained after which it’s superb to have a participant like Hugo to return on and each of them have gotten such high quality.”
