'It is not only mentality, it's also how fit we are' - Slot praises Liverpool's fitness levels

Liverpool claimed a dramatic victory in their opening Champions League match against Atlético Madrid, whose coach Diego Simeone was sent off at the end of the game after confronting some Reds fans who, according to him, had been insulting him since the start.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot said he hoped the focus would be on a "great" match rather than the incident after the winning goal. Slot's men have now won all their opening five Premier League and Champions League games with goals scored after the 80th minute.

The Dutch coach paid tribute to his side's fitness levels as well as their mentality and quality for finding a way to win. "It is not only mentality, it's also how fit we are, how well prepared we are, that they are able to push one more time," said Slot.

But Slot said he was "disappointed" to have needed another late winner on a night where Liverpool's new-look attack, that included a first start for British transfer record signing Alexander Isak, clicked into gear.

"This is what the new (Champions League) format is about, a first game in a group stage that could be a quarter-final or a semi-final," he added. "A game like this should not have gone to a late game winner. 

"I understand that's the story of this game and the last five games, but for me it is a different game than the ones we played before. We had so many great attacks today where we could have scored the third goal."