LIVERPOOL qualified for the last-16 of the Champions League thanks to a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
The Reds were brilliant as Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane’s first-half goals were enough to see of 10-man Atleti.
- RESULT: Liverpool 2-0 Atletico
- TV/Live stream: BT Sport 1
- Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Fabinho, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Salah, Jota
- Atletico XI: Oblak; Trippier, Felipe, Gimenez, Hermoso; Correa, De Paul, Koke, Carrasco; Suarez, Felix
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
THAT’S ALL FROM LIVERPOOL
Liverpool punched their ticket to the Champions League’s Last 16 with a dominant 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
The Reds opened the scoring after just 13 minutes when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pinpoint cross from the right found Diogo Jota unmarked in the area where he beat Jan Oblak from close range.
The Merseysiders doubled their lead just eight minutes later with another assist by Alexander-Arnold, whose ball found Sadio Mane in the box where he tapped it past Oblak.
It went from bad to worse for Atletico, who lost Felipe to a straight red card on 36 minutes after he fouled Mane from behind during a counter-attack.
Liverpool thought they sealed victory in the second half when Joel Matip played a beautiful ball through for Jota, who beat Oblak with ease however VAR deemed the Portugal international was offside.
Atleti came close to a goal of their own as Luis Suarez fired a deflected shot past Alisson soon after.
However, VAR found that Jose Maria Gimenez was offside in the build-up.
Liverpool dominated the last few minutes of the match that ended without a handshake between Jurgen Klopp and Diego Simeone.
That’s all from us here at SunSport, have a lovely night!
GETTY IMAGES OBLAK REACTS
Atletico Madrid star Jan Oblak likes his team’s chances of qualifying despite a poor display against Liverpool and addressed Felipe’s red card.
Oblak said: “You cannot blame anyone for anything, we have fought. They have made us two easy goals, that cannot happen, but we have played 70 minutes with one less. We did what we could. Everything is still open, we depend on us. We have to win the goals. two games left.
“They made us easy goals, I don’t know what’s going on. When we improve at the back we will have better results, it’s something for the whole team, we all have to do better.
“The expulsion [of Felipe] again. They are decisions of the referee, in the matches against Milan or Porto there were similar actions and there were no expulsions. What are we going to do, we cannot influence decisions that do not correspond to us”
GETTY IMAGES KLOPP REACTS
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp opened up about the game and what’s next for his team, who are already through to the Champions League Last 16.
Klopp told BT Sport: “In the second half it was controlled and calm, but even then we lost a player in [Roberto] Firmino.
“We had incredible chances, so the game was nearly perfect. They were much more on the front foot than in their home game.
“But then two incredible balls from Trent [Alexander-Arnold], and incredible finishes as well. We don’t want to play against 10 men, we don’t like that. I didn’t understand why their goal was offside. But in the end it was 2-0, a great night.
“I hated the moment when I had to take off Sadio [Mane] because he played an incredible game, but you could see, my worry was that any challenge in the air, when you never know what happens, Sadio is off. I didn’t like it, but we had to do it.
“You earn a lot of money if you win Champions League games, it is important for the club and that’s what we will do. But the first target was to get through the group, and we did it.
“A home game against Porto, what can we do, let them play? And then going to Milan, I’ve never been there, so we will show up there too.
“When I saw the group I did not expect that we would be through after four games, but the boys did it, and it’s really well deserved”
GETTY IMAGES
RED ALERT
Liverpool’s victory over Atletico Madrid sealed a 25-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
The Reds have won 18 times along the way, a streak that will definitely go down in history.
This is the Merseysiders’ joint-longest run since 1893 and 1982!
More below:
HANDS DOWN
There was no handshake between Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone.
We expected the two head coaches not to embrace as Simeone stated he doesn’t agree with that gesture before the game.
And Klopp appeared to respect his counterpart’s opinion during his pre-match press conference.
That is why the German didn’t even seek for a handshake after full-time
GETTY IMAGES KOP MAN
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp made history tonight following his team’s victory over Atletico Madrid.
Klopp picked up his 200th win in charge of the Reds after 334 matches and is up among some of the all-time best coaches in the club’s history.
The German boss made it to the top five along with Kenny Dalglish, Bob Paisley, Tom Watson and Bill Shankly.
More below:
UPDATED TABLE
Liverpool have already secured top spot in Group B and are on their way to the Champions League’s Last 16 – not too bad for the Group of Death…
The Reds are first with seven points separating them from second-placed Porto.
Atletico Madrid are third and are now set to battle with the Portuguese outfit as well as AC Milan for second place.
More below:
STATS
Liverpool dominated a staggering 72.7 per cent of possession throughout the encounter at Anfield.
The Reds registered 19 shots, six of which were on target.
Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, recorded just five shots, none of which were on target.
The Merseysiders outdid Atletico in defence as well as they won 63.2 per cent of tackles and 52.4 per cent of aerial duels
FT: LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
Liverpool punched their ticket to the Champions League’s Last 16 with a dominant victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
The Reds opened the scoring after just 13 minutes when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pinpoint cross from the right found Diogo Jota unmarked in the area where he beat Jan Oblak from close range.
The Merseysiders doubled their lead just eight minutes later with another assist by Alexander-Arnold whose ball found Sadio Mane in the box where he tapped it past Oblak.
It went from bad to worse for Atletico who lost Felipe to a straight red card on 36 minutes after he fouled Mane from behind during a counter-attack.
Liverpool thought they sealed victory in the second half when Joel Matip played a beautiful ball through for Jota, who beat Oblak with ease, however VAR deemed the Portugal international was offside.
Atleti came close to a goal of their own as Luis Suarez fired a deflected shot past Alisson soon after.
However, VAR found that Jose Maria Gimenez was offside in the build-up.
Liverpool dominated the last few minutes of the match that ended without a handshake between Jurgen Klopp and Diego Simeone
GETTY IMAGES
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THAT’S FULL-TIME IN LIVERPOOL!!!!!!!!!!
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
90+4 SUBSTITUTION
Liverpool boss Klopp introduces Phillips who replaces Alexander Arnold.
The defender gets a standing ovation from the Anfield crowd following a stunning performance that included two assists
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
90+3 CHANCE
Atletico star De Paul fires the free-kick but sends it wide
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
90+2 YELLOW CARD
Liverpool ace Matip gets boked for a rough challenge on Cunha.
Atletico get a foul from a promising position on the edge of Alisson’s box
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
90+2 “You Will Never Walk Alone” is echoing all around the stadium.
Liverpool are practically sealing first place int heir Champions League group
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
90 Four more minutes of stoppage time to go.
Liverpool are just a few minutes away from the Champions League Last 16!
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
87 Game has been paused as Trippier is on the ground seemingly dizzy after that challenge with Jota.
Atletico are out of substitutions and it seems like the England international will continue
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
86 YELLOW CARD
Jota is booked for his foul on Trippier.
The Liverpool star went for an impressive shot in mid-air but instead hit the Atletico star’s head
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
85 NO GOAL!
Liverpool hit the back of the net with Minamino but the goal doesn’t count as Jota fouled Trippier with a horrible aerial challenge as he kicked him in the head.
Thankfully the England international is well
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
85 Liverpool superstar Salah has been absolutely dominating down the right flank.
The forward has found it extremely easy to dribble past Atletico’s defenders, especially Hermoso.
Maybe a late goal or assist from the Egypt international?
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
83 Tempo has slowed down and Atletico boss Simeone is calling for his players to move forward.
Liverpool seem to be dedicating the last few minutes protecting their lead
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
80 Liverpool continue to dominate tempo as we approach full-time.
Atletico have been unable to create threats throughout the match
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
78 SUBSTITUTION
Turns out both Minamino and Origi are coming on.
Origi takes Firmino’s place whereas Minamino replaces Oxlade Chamberlain as Klopp won’t take any chances with the midfielder’s fitness
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
76 Liverpool are currently playing with 10 men as Firmino picked up a knock and can’t continue.
The striker will be replaced by either Minamino or Origi, who are warming up.
By the way, Oxlade-Chamberlain remains ion the pitch despite his earlier knock
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
75 SUBSTITUTION
Atletico boss Simeone makes another change as Serrano replaces Correa
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
74 CHANCE!
Atletico waste a golden chance to get back in the game!
The visitors get on the break and catch Liverpool’;s defence stretched.
Herrera gets a shot from the right side of the area but completely misses the target.
The Reds’ defenders are getting a bit laxed in the last few minutes….
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
