Virgil van Dijk gave Arne Slot a birthday present to remember as Diego Simeone was sent-off after accusing Liverpool’s fans of insulting him on a wild Anfield night.
Liverpool had led their opening Champions League game of the season 2-0 but squandered the advantage with Marcos Llorente scoring twice for the Spaniards; van Dijk, however, gave the hosts the win they deserved with a 92nd minute header.
That was only the start of the drama, however, as Simeone was given a straight red card, having become embroiled in a fracas close to Atletico’s dugout: stewards and members of the crowd jostled with the Argentine and members of his coaching staff.
Though he would not confirm why he was sent-off, Simeone suggested something needs to be done about the nature of abuse that gets aimed at managers in away games. He claimed he was reacting to words that were aimed at him after the goal.
Simeone said: ‘Let’s talk about what refers to me. We are in a place where we don’t have a right to reply or react, do we? It’s never very good when we react as managers, is it? We are the people on the stage out there and need to behave well.
‘But if there are comments against racism or insults, we can get angry and fight back as well. Managers, from the place that we are, get insulted all of the game. When they scored the third goal, he turned around and insulted me, when I turned around, I am a person and I’m human.
Diego Simeone has revealed why he angrily confronted Liverpool fans at Anfield on Wednesday
The Atletico Madrid manager took issue with members of the crowd after Liverpool’s late Champions League winner
He was shown a red card and admitted after the game that he could not justify his actions
‘I’m not going to get into the exact nature of the insults. I don’t want to get involved with that, I don’t want that discussion. I have got to stay in my place. I know what went on behind the manager’s bench. I can’t solve society’s problems in one press conference. I’ve got to live with it.’
Slot, who turned 47, had not seen what went on with Simeone after van Dijk’s goal but he was breathless after the conclusion. It was Liverpool’s fifth consecutive win.
‘The second year in a row that I celebrate my birthday on a Champions League night and the second in a row it is a nice present because we won them both,’ said Slot, who was in Milan 12 months ago for a 3-1 win.
‘It was another great night. It was a great game to watch, not only for us as Liverpool fans but also our jobs that people like what they see but a game like this should not have gone to a late winner.’