Of the many moments that exhibited Liverpool moving and thinking more quickly than Atletico Madrid the most illuminating came after 13 minutes here at Anfield last night.
It came with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s vision and body shape. It came as Jordan Henderson played the ball back to Alexander-Arnold and the full back was already scanning Atletico’s area for the right recipient. He was already getting his feet ready, getting his balance right, so he could respond first time. So when Henderson’s ball arrived, Alexander-Arnold instantly curled it into the area, placing it behind Felipe and perfectly picking out Diogo Jota to score.
It was the speed of the move, and Alexander-Arnold’s mind, that caught Atletico out. It was the stealth and timing of Jota’s run. It was the deliberate overload down the right, creating the opportunity for Alexander-Arnold to deliver. And eight minutes later he supplied another assist, this time for Sadio Mané.
With Atletico trailing by two goals and their left flank shredded, Diego Simeone rather ambitiously signalled for his players to stay calm. Too late. They were losing their men during Liverpool’s attacks and their discipline, soon losing Felipe for a violent hack at Mané. “Adios, adios” laughed the Kop, sending Felipe on his way.
Simeone’s side had run into a storm whipped up by Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah. Liverpool hunted pressure points, looking to overload down the right in particular. Simeone’s players could not deal with the threat at source. They could not respond quickly enough to the clever runs from Jota and Mané.
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This was not only a lesson handed out to Atletico but a reminder to the rest of Europe of Liverpool’s marauding menace. Liverpool did more than qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League with two games to spare. They progressed as leaders from a group packed with heavyweight names in Porto, AC Milan and Atletico. To think that on the past two occasions that they have won the Champions League they struggled to get out of their groups. They needed a Steven Gerrard-inspired win against Olimpiacos in 2004-05 and a remarkable Alisson save from Arkadiusz Milik to keep Napoli at bay in 2018-19.
The record books will show that Liverpool have won their opening four games of a Champions League group for the first time. The stats will also highlight that Liverpool are now unbeaten in their past 25 matches in all competitions, equalling the club record for professional games set in 1982 under Bob Paisley. Liverpool were undeniably assisted by Atletico’s lack of discipline and concentration but it was still a ruthless performance.
They are relentless. Any of Simeone’s players attempting to settle on the ball were immediately ambushed. Their frustration grew and grew. These are the Spanish champions, admittedly depleted without the likes of Antoine Griezmann, but Simeone was still able to field plenty of talent, although the captain, Koke, seemed more interested in niggly challenges, setting the tone for his team’s absence of restraint.
They are relentless. Any of Simeone’s players attempting to settle on the ball were immediately ambushed. Their frustration grew and grew. These are the Spanish champions, admittedly depleted without the likes of Antoine Griezmann, but Simeone was still able to field plenty of talent, although the captain, Koke, seemed more interested in niggly challenges, setting the tone for his team’s absence of restraint.
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Atletico came up against a referee in Danny Makkelie who was not standing for any of their histrionics or sly challenges. Mario Hermoso, Koke and, no surprise, Luis Suárez were all booked in the first half in addition to Felipe’s straight red. They also came up against an outstanding Liverpool side. Salah was making his 50th European appearance for the club and making life an absolutely misery for Hermoso. When Henderson turned in the centre and drove the ball right, Salah controlled the pass and sped forward. Hermoso’s tackle was a mix of the cynical and the agricultural, scything Salah down.
As the Kop sang “poetry in motion”, the goals swiftly arrived, starting with that magnificent cross from Alexander-Arnold put away by Jota. Kieran Trippier raised his hands in frustration, questioning why Jota’s run had not been tracked.
Yet it was the England full back whose concentration was awry for Liverpool’s second. Liverpool switched play so quickly, from left to right that Atletico were opened up. Kostas Tsimikas took the throw-in, picking out Jota, who slipped inside to Mané. The move carried crossfield, Henderson touching it on to Alexander-Arnold arriving like a latterday Carlos Alberto. He drove the ball powerfully goalwards, and Mané had anticipated well, using the pace of the ball to turn it left-footed past Jan Oblak.
Apart from Atletico’s vulnerability, the other theme of a one-sided half was Atletico’s short fuse. Suárez’s return contained an element of pantomime, bringing plenty of boos and a foul from Henderson. When Felipe swung a boot at Mané’s heels after 36 minutes, Makkelie deemed it far more than a tactical foul, far more than a trip. He saw it as violent conduct. Makkelie, one of Europe’s most experienced referees, summoned Felipe to turn and face him, but the centre back kept ignoring him before turning and delivering a pithy verdict on his officiating. Makkelie simply produced the red, much to the consternation of Simeone, Felipe, his team-mates and their 200 fans. Many Atletico supporters had been put off making the journey because of the number of Covid positive tests in the UK.
At the break, Jürgen Klopp sensibly withdrew Mané, who was on a booking, and taking a kicking. Roberto Firmino came on and was soon looking to make it 3-0. So did Jota, twice, Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip. Any Liverpool sighs were soon replaced by cackles of delight as Suárez’s deflected strike was ruled out by VAR for offside.
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The second half did come at a painful cost for Liverpool — Firmino damaged a hamstring, was helped to his feet but immediately signalled to the Liverpool bench that he had pulled his hamstring. Firmino. He was embraced by Klopp as he passed, the manager said a few words before the Brazilian headed straight down the tunnel but it was the one frustrating note to another impressive Liverpool performance.
Felipe deserved his red card
Peter Walton, former Premier League referee
Atletico Madrid’s Felipe was shown a straight red after his challenge on Sadio Mané after 38 minutes. It was a cynical foul and Felipe did plant his studs on the Liverpool forward’s calf. This could be considered violent conduct — we know Uefa has been very strong on this since the Euros and Danny Makkelie is a strong referee — but it was not clear at the time if the red card was awarded for the tackle or for the player’s response. Felipe ignored the referee which could be seen as an insulting gesture.
Liverpool (4-3-3): A Becker 7 — T Alexander-Arnold 8 (N Phillips 90min), J Matip 8, V van Dijk 8, K Tsimikas 7 — J Henderson 7, Fabinho 8 (T Alcantara 60, 6), A Oxlade-Chamberlain 7 (T Minamino 78) — M Salah 8, D Jota 7, S Mane 7 (R Firmino 46, 6) (D Origi 78). Booked Mane, Matip.
Atletico Madrid (5-3-2): J Oblak 6 — K Trippier 6, Felipe 4, J Giménez 5, M Hermoso 5, Y Carrasco 6 (S Vrsaljko 69, 6) — A Correa 5 (J Serrano 75), Koke 5 (M Cunha 69, 6), R De Paul 5 — L Suárez 5 (H Herrera 59, 5), F Joao 5 (Lodi 59. 5). Booked Hermoso, Suarez, Koke, Felix. Sent off Felipe.
Referee D Makkelie (Neth).
