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Liverpool maintained their perfect Champions League start with a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday night to secure a place in the last 16.
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Liverpool beat Atleti 3-2 at Wanda Metropolitano in the return leg on October 19, with Antoine Griezmann sent off before Mohamed Salah scored the game-winning goal from the penalty spot.
Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane gave the hosts a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes, with Trent Alexander-Arnold scoring both goals to give Jurgen Klopp’s side a 2-0 lead.
“The first goal was to finish this group. I didn’t expect we would be after four games, but the boys did it and it is really well deserved,” said Liverpool boss Klopp. .
Atleti suffered another setback before the break when Felipe received a red card for fouling Mane, who appeared to have a straight path to goal, leaving the LaLiga club to finish the game with 10 players.
Diego Simeone’s Atleti tried to get back into the game but were frustrated as Liverpool dominated possession and saw the result to take all three points.
Liverpool, first, have 12 points in the squad and are a lock to reach the round of 16 after winning four games in four tries, while Atleti are third by four points behind Porto, who sit second after have got a draw with the bottom. AC Milan earlier today.
A draw would have been enough for Liverpool to secure their passage to the round of 16, but from the start Klopp’s side seemed to have only victory in mind.
Jota put the locals ahead in the 13th minute, nodding at the far post after a superb cross from the right from Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold was the second supplier again eight minutes later when his low ball in the box was brilliantly greeted by Sadio Mane who shot past Jan Oblak.
The Spanish squad’s troubles escalated after Felipe was sent off in the 36th minute for a deliberate move to Mane which earned him a hard red.
Jota thought he had his second and Liverpool’s third shortly after the break but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez also had a deflected effort, which beat VAR ruled out Alisson Becker for offside, but the Spanish champions couldn’t complain about the result.
The only downside for Klopp’s side was a hamstring injury to Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino in the second half.
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