Salah Shines As Liverpool Overcomes A Resilient Atletico Side
Egyptian International and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah scored twice as The Reds secured a 3-2 victory against a resilient Atletico Madrid side in a thrilling UEFA Champions League clash at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.
Atletico Madrid started with a front-two of Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix, while Liverpool had Roberto Firmino in attack, supported by Sadio Mane and Salah.
The in-form Salah opened the scoring with a deflected effort in the eighth minute to give Liverpool a dream start against Atletico.
The visitors continued to dominate possession and create chances as they were determined to pick up all 3 points. Naby Keita then added a second goal with a brilliant volley five minutes later as Liverpool looked set to crush Diego Simeone’s side.
However, Liverpool’s defence fell apart shortly afterwards as Atletico came roaring back. Griezmann was on centre stage as he steered home a Koke shot in the 20th minute to reduce the deficit.
The hosts continued to press for an equaliser and they were rewarded 14 minutes later.
After a superb run from Felix, his pass found Griezmann and the Frenchman’s brilliant first touch opened up the space in front of him for a clinical finish low past Alisson’s left hand.
After a thrilling opening 45 minutes, Liverpool finished the first half on the ropes as Atletico came back firing.
Yannick Carrasco forced an early save from Alisson early in the second half. However, Griezmann was shown a straight red card seven minutes after the break for carelessly planting his foot in the face of Roberto Firmino as he challenged for a high ball.
Simeone’s reaction was to keep urging the home crowd on and his team looked capable of hanging on with 10 men until another costly lapse.
Defender Mario Hermoso conceded a penalty by barging into Diogo Jota, and Salah made no mistake from the spot to put Liverpool back in the lead.
Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez came off the bench and flashed a stoppage-time shot over the bar, before being booked for an angry exchange with the referee as he sought to find an equaliser for his side.
With seven minutes of stoppage time added on, Liverpool were left hanging on, but they managed to see the game out.
The win kept Liverpool top in Group B on nine points, five ahead of second-placed Atletico and Porto in third, with AC Milan pointless at the foot of the table.
“Honestly, how you win it, I couldn’t care less. The dirty ones are the really important ones,” Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp said.
“When we are flying we win the games anyway, but on a night like this getting three points is really massive.”
UEFA Champions League results
Club Brugge 1-5 Manchester City
PSG 3-2 RB Leipzig
Atletico Madrid 2-3 Liverpool
FC Porto 1-0 AC Milan
Besiktas 1-4 Sporting CP
Ajax 4-0 Borussia Dortmund
Inter Milan 3-1 FC Sheriff
Shakhtar Donetsk 0-5 Real Madrid
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
