Liverpool welcomed Atletico Madrid for an important Group B UEFA Champions League fixture. The Reds, who were sitting at the top of the table knew a win against Atletico will qualify them to the Last 16 with two games to spare.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid were under pressure to come up with a result to keep in touch for the next round. In the other game in the group, Porto played out a draw against AC Milan to move to the second spot.
Previously, when these two sides met in the reverse fixture, Liverpool edged 3-2 at Wanda Metropolitano with Mohamed Salah scoring the winner converting from the penalty spot.
The game also saw Antoine Griezmann receive a red card, as a result of which he missed out on the trip to Anfield.
The atmosphere was electrifying at Anfield, the Iconic home of the Liverpool Football Club.
Liverpool started brightly and scored two goals in the first 20 minutes. Both Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane scored those goals which were perfectly set up by Trent Alexander Arnold. One was a proper assist while one was a shot converted into an assist.
In the 36th minute, the situation became bad to worse for Diego Simeone’s side. The Atletico Madrid defender Felipe was sent off for his deliberate trip to Mane leaving the Spanish side with 10 men.
After the interval, Jota thought he scored his second goal and the team’s third but the goal was ruled offside by VAR.
Atletico tried hard to come back into the game and nearly got a goal back. As former Reds superstar, Luis Suarez scored a deflected goal. But was soon disallowed due to offside after VAR check.
The match ended with a scoreline of Liverpool 2-0 Atletico Madrid and its job done for Liverpool. The win guarantees Liverpool a place for the knockouts with a top spot in the group.
Key numbers from the game
Liverpool are now unbeaten in 25 games in all competition, and now they equal joint-longest run since the inaugural of the club way back in 1893. The last time this happened was in 1982 but the unbeaten streak was restricted to 25 during Bob Paisley’s era.
Meanwhile, Mo Salah made his 50th European appearance for the Reds.
Jurgen Klopp became the fifth Liverpool manager to register the 200th win, he achieved it in a total of 334 games. Previously, Legends Tom Watson, Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, and Kenny Daglish achieved it.
Moreover, Jurgen Klopp also marked his 50th UEFA Champions League game as the Reds manager.
For Atletico Madrid, this is the second time under Diego Simeone to lose back-to-back Champions League group stage games. Previously, it happened back in November 2019.
Champions League-Liverpool 2-0 Atletico Madrid: Post match reaction.
Klopp’s reaction On whether the result and situation in the group ‘could not have gone any better
If Bobby Firmino wouldn’t have gone off with a hamstring injury that would have been much better. But from pretty much all other points of view, it was a good performance, it’s an incredible group stage so far.
When asked about Felipe’s sending off
So, I didn’t see in the first place that it was a red card. For me, it was a yellow card. And I saw it back and then you see that the foot is high and hits his Achilles, so it’s a decision [of] the referee. I think of the law it’s a red card.
Klopp speaks about Trent Alexander Arnold’s performance
He’s a good player obviously and he has a pretty impressive right foot and his awareness is outstanding. When he’s on top of his game, he’s outstanding, that’s how it is.
Klopp’s view on Sadio Mane’s substitution
Probably everybody in the stadium expected I would do it, each journalist expected I would do it and I thought it was the right thing to do.
Klopp’s positive remark on no handshake after the game
It’s absolutely no problem at all. I know Diego doesn’t like these kind of things and I am not the biggest handshaker on the planet and want to annoy people with my handshaking.
What’s next for Liverpool
Next up for Liverpool is a trip to west London to face the Hammers’ West Ham United. While currently, Liverpool are sitting at the 2nd spot in the Premier League table.
