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UCL Champions League Returns More late drama, more wild scenes of celebration following another stoppage-time winner. Once again, Liverpool put their supporters through the wringer before emerging triumphant. Captain Virgil van Dijk added his name to their growing list of last-gasp heroes with a 92nd-minute header, which ensured Arne Slot got the birthday gift he wanted at Anfield. Advertisement It is a crazy statistic that the Premier League champions have thrown away a 2-0 lead three times in five games so far this season and on each occasion they have recovered to land a decisive blow right at the death. Common sense tells you it is unsustainable, but it keeps on happening. Take your pick about whether it is down to good fortune, fitness, resilience or desire. Yet amid the mayhem as Liverpool got their Champions League campaign off to a victorious start against Atletico Madrid, there were highly-promising signs for the challenges ahead. In many ways, this was very different from what went before. For a start, Liverpool delivered a performance at a level they had not previously reached this season. They should have been out of sight long before Marcos Llorente equalised with his second goal of the night, nine minutes from full time. There was a much better tempo, intensity and fluency to their attacking play. The hosts had 20 shots to 10 and had an x G (expected goals) total of 2. 60 versus 0. 61. With all eyes on debutant Alexander Isak, it was the second-most expensive signing in the club’s history who stole the show. This represented a big step forward for Florian Wirtz. The Germany international had shown only glimpses of his talent in the opening month of the season following his £116million (£160. 7m) move from Bayer Leverkusen. Much to Slot’s dismay, some pundits have been critical, with some questioning the wisdom of paying such a fee for him. The pace and physicality had been an eye-opener for Wirtz as he settled into his new surroundings, but against Atletico he played with a swagger and showed why Liverpool regarded it as such a coup when they beat Bayern Munich and Manchester City to secure his signature. He was bought to unlock defences and during his 74 minutes on the field, he created five chances — more than anyone else on either team. The ovation Wirtz received when Rio Ngumoha, who became the youngest player to represent the club in Europe at 17 years and 19 days, replaced him was richly deserved. “Florian was indeed a few times close to scoring a goal and he was also a few times close to assisting a goal, ” Slot said. “I can see with him also that he is getting fitter and fitter and adjusting more and more to us, which is normal. You need a bit of time to adjust. We all know how much quality he has but sometimes people forget that he is a 22-year-old who goes abroad for the first time. Advertisement “I am 47 because it is my birthday today but last year I came when I was 46 and it was my first time working abroad. In the first two or three months, your whole life is changing. All the things that are normal to you are not normal anymore. Everything is different and that sometimes costs energy as well. “Combine that with going to a new club, a new playing style — because Leverkusen played 3-4-3 and we play 4-3-3 — so we ask a bit more from him off the ball and defensively as well. But I can see him growing more and more. He and the team will get better and better, but I liked his performance a lot. ” It was telling against Atletico how deep Wirtz dropped to find space to receive the ball off either Van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate before launching attacks by threading pinpoint passes between the lines. On one occasion late in the first half, he shrugged off the attention of Pablo Barrios, surged forward and fed Isak before making an intelligent burst into the box. The return pass was perfect but after Wirtz went around Jan Oblak, Jeremie Frimpong could not provide the finish under pressure. Isak was still awaiting his first touch when Liverpool led 2-0 inside six minutes courtesy of Mohamed Salah’s free kick being turned in by Andy Robertson and Salah scoring in style after being teed up by Ryan Gravenberch. But the Sweden international gradually came to the fore and the understanding between him and Wirtz served to whet the appetite for what is to come. The £241m double act was on the same wavelength. Both of Isak’s attempts on goal came from the service to him provided by Liverpool’s new creative force. After Hugo Ekitike came on for the tiring Isak shortly before the hour mark, Wirtz was moved out to the left flank following the introduction of Alexis Mac Allister for the ineffective Cody Gakpo. Advertisement Having launched a slick counter-attack from inside his own box, Wirtz should have had an assist when Salah shot against the inside of the post. There was another unselfish lay-off from him into the path of Ekitike, who skied it when well placed. “He’s just getting started, ” Wirtz’s close friend Frimpong told LFCTV. “I spent four years with him at Leverkusen and I know what he can do. I’m seeing that. It’s coming. There’s a lot more to see from him. “Of course we can play better as a team but the most important thing is winning. This is why I came to Liverpool. They know how to win. ” Having Frimpong alongside him has helped Wirtz adapt to life on Merseyside. He has also bonded with Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ekitike. He is reserved but driven. Van Dijk’s commanding header from Szoboszlai’s late corner ensured that momentum was maintained going into Saturday’s Merseyside derby. Slot has much to ponder selection-wise given the quick turnaround, but Wirtz looks certain to start. Belief will be coursing through his veins now his Anfield career has lift-off. (Top photo: Marc Atkins/Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle James Pearce joins the Athletic after 14 years working for the Liverpool Echo. The dad-of-two has spent the past decade covering the fortunes of Liverpool FC across the globe to give fans the inside track on the Reds from the dressing room to the boardroom. Follow James on Twitter @James Pearce LFC