So Overrated’ – Pundit Tears Into Liverpool Despite 3-2 Win vs Atletico Madrid

Liverpool fans woke up with mixed feelings after their thrilling Champions League night against Atletico Madrid because even though the Reds secured another dramatic win, the noise outside Anfield was not all about celebrations. Instead, a pundit’s voice echoed louder than the cheers from the Kop. Ian Paul Joy, the CBS Sports analyst who has a reputation for tearing into teams when emotions are still raw, used the chance to launch another attack on Liverpool. He did not hold back and called the Reds overrated, and his comments immediately spread across social media like fire on dry grass. For a team that had just shown incredible character to come back and snatch victory at the death, such words felt like salt poured into fresh wounds for many supporters. The question many Liverpool fans asked was simple: why is this man so desperate to drag down a team that keeps proving everyone wrong on the pitch?

The match itself was a Hollywood script. The Reds led, lost their lead, looked like they were running out of ideas, and then in the 92nd minute, the captain Virgil van Dijk rose like a warrior in the box and powered home a header that broke Atletico hearts and sent Anfield into wild celebrations. This was not just a goal. It was another chapter in Liverpool’s story of late winners this season. The pattern has become familiar already. Against Arsenal, they waited until the 83rd minute to find the decisive strike. Against Atletico now, they pushed until the second minute of added time. Fans call it belief, pundits like Joy call it luck. But the truth probably lies somewhere in between: a team that refuses to give up until the very last whistle always creates its own fortune.

But Joy was not interested in the romance of the moment. His tone was sharp, almost bitter. He started by mocking the game, calling it ridiculous. He admitted Liverpool had shown great mentality, that spirit of never giving up, but then he switched gears and delivered his verdict that stunned many. He said Liverpool were overrated. He said defensively they were shaky, offensively they were far from top gear, and he questioned how long this habit of late rescues could continue. In his eyes, a champion should dominate from start to finish, not scramble victories in the dying moments. But in football, domination is measured in points, not possession or timing of goals, and this is why his comments have left so many scratching their heads.

The word overrated is one of the most dangerous in football. It cuts deep because it suggests a team is praised more than it deserves, that its success is not real, not earned, not sustainable. For Liverpool supporters, hearing that after five consecutive wins, after watching their team survive huge challenges in both the Premier League and Champions League, felt like a slap. Many rushed to defend their club online. Some argued that if anything, Liverpool were unlucky rather than lucky, pointing out that Atletico’s first goal should have been disallowed for offside and their second came from a wicked deflection. Others reminded Joy that the Reds have beaten Atletico, Arsenal, and Newcastle in recent weeks without even hitting their highest level, which should scare rivals more than encourage them.

For Arne Slot, the man in the middle of all this noise, life has been a rollercoaster since taking over from Jurgen Klopp. He arrived at Anfield with huge expectations but also doubts, because following Klopp is like climbing Everest barefoot. Every game he manages is a test of belief, not just for him but for the whole Liverpool community. And so far, despite the chaos, he has passed every test. Five wins out of five, each one dramatic in its own way, has given him breathing space. Critics like Joy may talk about overrated performances, but the league table and Champions League standings show nothing but green. For Slot, that is what matters most.

Still, Joy’s comments dig deeper than just one game. They raise the question of sustainability. Can Liverpool continue to ride their luck, or will the cracks grow bigger? History offers examples on both sides. Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson often won late with what fans called Fergie Time, and nobody dared call them overrated for it. They were called relentless, ruthless, inevitable. On the other hand, some teams that relied on dramatic comebacks eventually collapsed when the luck ran out. So maybe the truth about Liverpool will only reveal itself as the season goes deeper. For now, though, it feels harsh to downgrade a team that keeps finding ways to win.

Liverpool fans, emotional and fiercely loyal, have always reacted strongly to outsiders criticizing their players. This time, Joy’s attack on Virgil van Dijk hit particularly hard. Before the season began, Joy boldly predicted that the Dutch captain would struggle, claiming age and injuries had caught up with him. But against Atletico, Van Dijk silenced critics with a towering display, scoring the winner and being named Man of the Match. To still call Liverpool overrated on a night when Van Dijk proved his class again felt almost personal. One fan even wrote online, “This man must have something against Van Dijk. Every time Virgil shines, he finds an excuse to attack the team.”

The bigger story here is about respect. Liverpool, with a £415 million summer rebuild, are in transition. New players are arriving, old leaders are departing, and the style is still settling under Slot. In such times, it is normal for performances to look inconsistent. What matters is the results, and Liverpool have been perfect in that department. Calling them overrated now seems premature at best and biased at worst. Maybe Joy wants to stand out by throwing bold opinions into the mix. Maybe he genuinely believes what he says. Either way, it adds fuel to a fire that already burns brightly in football debates.

For the players, such words can either hurt or inspire. Some may feel disrespected and use it as extra motivation. Others may brush it off as meaningless noise. What is certain is that Liverpool will be tested again very soon. The Merseyside derby against Everton is next, a match known for red cards, tension, and drama. If Liverpool show weakness there, Joy’s words will echo louder. But if they dominate and win comfortably, fans will demand that he eats his words live on television.

In football, narratives change faster than the wind. One late winner is called luck, three late winners become a pattern, five late winners become destiny. If Liverpool continue this habit all season, the label of overrated will die quickly, replaced by one word: unstoppable. Slot knows it, the players know it, and deep down, even critics like Joy know it. That is why they try to strike early, to sow seeds of doubt before the momentum becomes too strong.

The irony is that Liverpool’s so-called flaws only highlight their strength. Yes, they concede goals. Yes, they leave it late. But in a game as unforgiving as football, winning while still under construction is the sign of a true giant. Other teams would love to be overrated in this way: top of the group, unbeaten in the league, and full of belief. This is why fans laugh through the anger. They know that every insult thrown at their team is secretly a form of fear. Rivals cannot believe Liverpool are still this good, so they look for cracks.

The season is young, and the story is far from written. Maybe Joy will be proven right, maybe Liverpool will stumble, maybe late goals will dry up. Or maybe, just maybe, this is the birth of another legendary run, one that will be remembered for decades. For now, all that matters is that the Reds keep winning, keep fighting, and keep proving doubters wrong. Anfield has always thrived on that energy, the us-against-the-world mentality. With each critic, the fortress grows stronger. And with each late winner, belief spreads deeper into the hearts of fans.

So when Joy calls Liverpool overrated, supporters hear something else entirely. They hear fear, they hear jealousy, they hear the echo of rivals who know deep down that Liverpool are still very much alive, still very much dangerous, and still very much capable of writing another unforgettable chapter in football history