Liverpool's win comes with a worry

Anfield got the result it wanted. Liverpool came from behind to beat Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid 2-1, a proper European night that gave Slot's side an early lead in their group. Arsenal, meanwhile, kept pace with a win of their own against Napoli, though the scoreline from that game hasn't been confirmed in reporting so far.

A rough introduction for Barcola

The headline concern belongs to Barcola. The French forward, reportedly signed from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, was given his chance against Atlético and struggled to get going before being taken off through injury. According to Foot Mercato, his display did little to win over a watching English audience, with the outlet suggesting he simply didn't convince in his outing.

Barcola has had just 26 minutes of Premier League football so far this season, with no goals or assists to his name, numbers that reflect how little time he's actually had on the pitch. That's context, not condemnation: a player barely settled into a new club, thrown into a Champions League atmosphere at Anfield, was always going to take time to find his feet. The injury has simply cut that adjustment period short.

Slot's options up front

Liverpool aren't short of attacking cover even with Barcola sidelined, and this win came without needing him at his best. The team sit sixth in the Premier League with five points from three games, a solid if unspectacular domestic start that a Champions League win at Anfield should lift.

Whatever the fee involved in bringing Barcola in, a spell out through injury before he's even settled is not the ideal start to his time on Merseyside.

Arsenal also open with a win

Beating Atlético Madrid at home is a proper marker in a competition where away form is currency and home points are non-negotiable. Arsenal doing the same against Napoli means two English sides start their European campaigns unbeaten, and Mikel Arteta's side will feel similarly encouraged heading into matchday two.

For Liverpool, the story of the night was as much about who left the pitch as who won it. Slot got his three points. What he doesn't yet know is how long he'll be without one of his forwards.