Liverpool 2 Atletico Madrid 3 (2-4 agg): Llorente scores twice in extra time to dump holders out of Champions League
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AN INJURED hip, one fatal slip, and Liverpool’s reign as European champions was over.
Despite a dominant second-leg display, Jurgen Klopp’s men were undone by a blunder from keeper Adrian — standing in for the crocked Alisson.
Liverpool had taken the aggregate lead through Roberto Firmino’s first Anfield goal of the season early in extra-time, only to be hit by quick-fire goals from Atletico subs Marcos Llorente and Alvaro Morata.
The first came via a dreadful attempted clearance from Adrian — proving that even a team as dominant and relentless as the Premier League’s runaway leaders can still come unstuck due to a lack of squad depth.
This will still be a successful campaign — a first league title in 30 years was always the priority and it will probably be achieved with a record points total.
But this was the first time Klopp has lost a two-legged European tie in his Liverpool reign and it will sting on Merseyside.
The first-leg defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano last month — inflicted by an early Saul Niguez goal — was the start of Liverpool’s wobble, consisting of three defeats in four games.
It was far too late to cause any kind of intrigue in the Premier League title race but did at least make Klopp’s men appear human again after more than an a year of near-invincibility.
The Scouse romantics had been talking this up as one of those fabled great Anfield European nights — and the atmosphere lived up to that prediction.
Also, with the coronavirus taking hold, there was an understanding that this could have been the last time in this glorious campaign, that the stadium would be peopled.
At least they had their influential skipper Jordan Henderson back — his hamstring injury has coincided with his team’s recent blip.
Two familiar faces returned to Atletico’s starting line-up — pantomime villain Diego Costa, who had been benched in Madrid, but last night included in a striker partnership alongside Joao Felix.
And England full-back Kieran Trippier, who had missed the first game through injury, was also back.
That first leg was spiky and tasty — Klopp claiming Atletico supporters had influenced the ref and Andy Robertson accusing the Spanish team of over-celebrating their slender advantage.
Klopp had promised Diego Simeone’s men a warm welcome on Merseyside — and they got one with Anfield in full voice.
The Liverpool boss had warned against Atletico’s dark arts and the visitors — all dressed in black — certainly thrive on their reputation for villainy.
A health-conscious Klopp had angrily, and quite understandably, turned down supporters’ requests for high fives as he walked out of the tunnel.
Atletico defended deep, as we had expected, and for 15 minutes, Liverpool were limited to half-chances and speculative efforts.
Then, with the rain lashing down, Jan Oblak was forced into a serious save, pushing out a fierce drive from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
But when Atletico forced a corner, centre-back Felipe caused a scare by heading into the side-netting at the near post.
Simeone’s boys were starting to put together some decent passing moves but then Liverpool caught them on the break, Salah feeding Sadio Mane who should have done better than firing straight at Oblak.
Then the Slovenian Oblak showed why he is regarded as the best keeper on the planet with an instinctive stop after Roberto Firmino had got a touch to a devilish Trent Alexander-Arnold centre.
The England right-back soon got involved in one of the first serious outbreaks of niggles after he launched a late challenge on Felix.
Two minutes before the interval, the breakthrough arrived from another superb right-wing cross — Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s effort met by Gini Wijnaldum with an unstoppable downward header.
Liverpool went straight for the jugular at the start of the second half, Salah wasting a chance and Oxlade-Chamberlain testing Oblak with a fizzer.
Simeone hauled off Costa, who threw a tantrum to the delight of home fans, and Firmino soon forced another decent stop from Oblak when Alexander-Arnold whipped in a free-kick.
But stand-in keeper Adrian gave Liverpool a minor scare when he failed to hold a Felix shot. Normal service was resumed when Liverpool indulged in a spot of counter-pressing and Robertson headed a Salah centre against the bar.
Then Oblak dived to thwart Alexander-Arnold as the Reds became frustrated.
Late on, Liverpool opted for the spectacular — Mane narrowly over with two bicycle kicks, Salah just wide after a gorgeous dribble.
And with the final action of the 90 minutes Niguez headed in from a free-kick, Atleti’s bench going barmy but at least three players were clearly offside.
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Within five minutes of the start of extra-time, Liverpool seized the lead when Firmino’s header was pushed out by Oblak only for the Brazilian to snaffle the rebound.
Liverpool’s advantage lasted only three minutes. Adrian botched his clearance, finding Felix, who fed Llorente for a bullet shot.
At the end of the first period of extra-time, Atletico broke, Alvaro Morata squared and Llorente hammered home a shot before Morata himself wrapped it up with No 3.
