Liverpool have qualified as group winners for the 1/8th finals in the Champions League without too many problems. Against Atletico Madrid, the home team quickly swirled to a double lead before halftime. An unrecognizable Atletico, who played more than a half with 10 men, is anything but certain of the next round.
Liverpool – Atletico Madrid in a nutshell:
- Key moment: 8 minutes before half time, Atletico has to continue with 10 after defender Felipe has been shown red. The visitors never recover from that uppercut and can never really get Liverpool in trouble again.
- Man of the Match: Although Mohamed Salah once again conjured up some great pendulum movements, Alexander-Arnold can take the honors this time. The English defender provided 2 wonderful assists and also played a very strong game defensively.
- Remarkable: Liverpool are now 25 games unbeaten (18 wins and 7 draws) across all competitions. A strong series of Jürgen Klopp’s men.
Liverpool KO . visitors before half time
In a packed Anfield, team-in-form Liverpool needed less than fifteen minutes to shake the nets for the first time. Alexander-Arnold swung a cross at a time towards the far post, where Jota simply headed in the opening goal.
Atletico saw all the colors of the rainbow and a few minutes later the home team struck mercilessly for a second time. Mané cleverly caught up to a hard cross from – again – Alexander-Arnold and sublimely pushed the 2-0 past Oblak.
The visitors kept chasing an elusive ball and when Mané pulled himself together a few minutes before half time, Felipe’s light went out completely. The Brazilian defender knocked the Senegalese down from behind and was allowed to take a shower immediately.
An unrecognizable Atletico dived into the dressing room with a double deficit and one man less. Although the verdict could have been even tougher without two great saves from Oblak.
Ten-man Atletico are spared by the Reds
Also in the 2nd half it quickly became clear that Liverpool’s hunger had not yet been quenched. After a great run, Jota scored his second goal of the evening, but the VAR ruled out his goal for just offside.
Atletico switched to survival mode, until Suarez seemed to make the connection goal out of the blue at the hour. However, that party was also short-lived, because again there was offside.
Liverpool took their foot off the accelerator and played the game calmly. With the substitute Origi between the lines, Minamino seemed to put the icing on the cake shortly before the end, but again referee Makkelie prevented the 3-0.
With 2 games to go, Liverpool is already certain of the next round as group winner. Atletico Madrid and Porto will have to decide among themselves who will break through as 2nd in the group.
Of goals go Jota in Mané:
