Thursday’s briefing: Liverpool leave it late again as Harry Kane downs Chelsea

Liverpool again left it late as they got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start while Chelsea became the first English side to lose in Europe this week.

Ange Postecoglou’s wait for his first win goes on after they surrendered a two-goal lead to Swansea in the Carabao Cup.

Virgil van Dijk headed home from a corner in stoppage time as Liverpool left it late again to secure a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

Andy Robertson and Mo Salah each bagged in the first six minutes of the contest as Liverpool got off to a flying start, but for the third time in five matches they let a two-goal lead slip courtesy of Marcos Llorente’s double.

Late winners have been a familiar pattern for the Reds this season and Van Dijk proved to be the hero as boss Arne Slot celebrated his 47th birthday with victory.

Robertson told TNT Sports: “I think we need to maybe get back to winning a bit simpler and a bit easier.”

Chelsea’s first Champions League appearance for two and a half years ended in defeat after Harry Kane’s double helped seal a 3-1 win for Bayern Munich.

Vincent Kompany’s side clicked into gear midway through the first half and struck twice in seven minutes courtesy of a Trevoh Chalobah own goal and a Kane penalty.

Cole Palmer produced a moment of magic to help get Chelsea back into the contest, but Kane’s second-half finish was enough to earn victory over last season’s Conference League champions.

The Blues were dining at Europe’s top table for the first time since being dumped out by Real Madrid in the 2022-23 season, and will look to bounce back when they welcome Benfica to Stamford Bridge in two weeks’ time.

Championship side Swansea scored twice in stoppage time to stun Nottingham Forest 3-2 and dump them