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Van Dijk and Salah were immense, but 105-touch Liverpool ace outrageously good again v Atletico

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Liverpool are up and running in the Champions League thanks to a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid in which Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah were immense.

Liverpool were two up against Atletico by the six-minute mark thanks to goals from Andrew Robertson and Mohamed Salah.

And though Marcos Llorente bagged another Anfield brace to restore parity for the visitors, Virgil van Dijk fired in a late header to claim all three points.

But despite Van Dijk and Salah’s impressive displays, a different Liverpool player was outrageously good once again for Arne Slot’s side.

Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool FC in action during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Anfield on September 17, 2025
Photo by Dennis Agyeman / Europa Press via Getty Images

Dominik Szoboszlai shines for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid

Dominik Szoboszlai was one of Liverpool’s best players last season and he has very much picked up from where he left off.

The Hungary international has even featured as an emergency right-back this term, and he has continued to deliver impressive displays.

On Wednesday, Szoboszlai returned to midfield against Atletico, and he was one of Liverpool’s unsung heroes on the night.

The 24-year-old covered every blade of grass and provided a superb corner delivery for Van Dijk’s winner.

Indeed, pundit Tim Sherwood previously touched upon Szoboszlai’s fitness, and this proved to be the case again.

In terms of statistics, Szoboszlai got a staggering 105 touches of the ball and completed 72 of his 79 passes for a completion rate of 91 percent.

In addition, Szoboszlai made three key passes, delivered nine accurate long balls and crosses, had three efforts of his own, won five duels, and chipped in with four tackles and one interception.

READ MORE: Ally McCoist says Hugo Ekitike did something quite astounding after replacing Alexander Isak for Liverpool

StatisticNumber
Minutes played90′
Assists1
Touches105
Accurate passes72/79 (91%)
Key passes3
Crosses (accurate)9 (5)
Long balls (accurate)5 (4)
Big chances created1
Shots on target0
Shots off target1
Shots blocked2
Dribble attempts (successful)2 (0)
Ground duels (won)8 (4)
Aerial duels (won)3 (1)
Interceptions1
Total tackles4
Dribbled past1
Dominik Szoboszlai stats vs Atletico (Sofascore)

What Arne Slot said about Dominik Szoboszlai after the game

Liverpool boss Arne Slot spoke about his team’s late winner at his post-match presser, commenting on both Szoboszlai and Van Dijk for their roles in the big moment.

“The cross from Szoboszlai and the way Virgil heads the ball in is not only to do with mentality or being fit, that is also [about] having so much quality,” Slot told the Reds media team.

The Dutchman also touched upon the role Szoboszlai played in the attack which saw Mohamed Salah hit the post.

He said: “I would have liked it more if we would have spoken about, ‘Did you see the few attacks we had before half-time when Florian [Wirtz] and Alex combined together, which led to almost Jeremie [Frimpong] scoring.

“‘Or second half, a great attack with Dominik and Flo and Mo that ended up on the post.’

“I can come up with so many great attacks we had today but probably no one is talking about that.”