Surprise make an impression on Liverpool gives Atletico hope
Liverpool were the victims of a great old-fashioned Atletico Madrid masterclass on Tuesday seeing as Diego Simeone's side surface out a 1-0 win found in Madrid to provide themselves hope of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals.
Saul Niguez raised the roof in a bouncing Wanda Metropolitano by scoring found in the 4th minute before Atletico's defence kicked found in, suffocating the European champions and denying them an individual shot on target.
"Tonight is among those nights you do not forget," explained Simeone. "We haven't been through but we have beaten the best team on the globe."
If Alvaro Morata had not slipped at the key moment, Atleti may have taken a two-goal bring about Anfield, where they can expect an onslaught the following month.
"We aren't 5-0 down," explained Jurgen Klopp. "We don't believe it'll be easy but so long as we can acquire 11 players in Liverpool shirts we will give everything we've. And for all the Liverpool fans that can get yourself a ticket -- welcome to Anfield."
If Liverpool remain favourites to go through, the roar from the Atleti admirers at the ultimate whistle, targeted at their fist-pumping players on the pitch, suggested Simeone's team will have belief.
Handful of had tipped them to hold this tie even alive for the next leg given their very own stuttering form, as opposed to Liverpool, unbeaten found in the Premier Group, and gunning for a good treble.
Jurgen Klopp said on Mon Atletico were a "results machine" however the temptation was first to see his phrases as platitudes, not an accurate reflection of a side that sits 13 points in back of La Liga leaders True Madrid and had already lost six moments this season.
Yet Atletico under Simeone also have become synonymous with upsetting the odds, just as they did when winning the Spanish name in 2014 and then twice reaching the Champions League final.
For almost all their failings this year, they summoned that spirit here to produce a throwback performance packed with tenacity, resilience and guts that was always likely to be needed to give them any potential for success.
Before the meet, Atletico's team bus had attained the stadium under plumes of red smoke. "We began to win the game when the bus emerged around the roundabout and we observed our admirers," said Simeone.
He sprung a shock by beginning Thomas Lemar for the very first time this year while Alvaro Morata and Diego Costa both returned from damage, the former right away and the latter off the bench found in the second half.
- Atletico snapping at heels -
Liverpool, who commenced with their expected eleven, have blitzed numerous opponents with explosive begins however they were the kinds rocking in early stages as Atletico snapped in their heels, pressed hard and relished being primary to every loose ball.
They took the lead, aided by a hint of fortune as Liverpool failed to clear the corner and the ball cannoned back off the foot of Fabinho for Saul to stab in from three yards.
On the sideline, Simeone beckoned his players to remain calm nevertheless they were celebrating in the corner within the stands, the fans were delirious and given hope.
Atletico received a bring about defend and all of those other half was largely an image of Liverpool dominating the ball but failing woefully to breakdown the 10 red and white shirts before them.
Their finest chances fell to Mohamed Salah but he passed Jan Oblak's mishit clearance to the offside Firmino before sidefooting into an open net and then saw a deflected shot fly over.
Oblak's error came soon after a great equally unusual oversight from Virgil van Dijk, whose poor header may have proved costly, limited to Morata to miss the chance from the position.
Sadio Mane, on a good yellow card, was first replaced at half-period by Divock Origi even while Lemar made method for the even more conscientious Marcos Llorente.
Simeone could impression Liverpool's momentum and he responded by frantically flapping his arms to demand more support.
Salah drifted into space in the back post but headed large and Atletico came through another spell of pressure unscathed. Morata should even have managed to get two but slipped when going to pull the tigger on Lodi's cut-back.
He was removed with 20 minutes still left, along with Salah, and Costa made his go back shortly after to a good wave of acceptance from the house support. The roar was even bigger when the ultimate whistle blew.
