Player ratings: Atletico Madrid 2-3 Liverpool
What an unusually entertaining game, considering our opponents. It had everything, spectacular goals, drama, red card, VAR… Anyway without further ado…
Alisson (9) – The last time we played Atletico, our goalkeeper on the night cost us dearly. Last night showed the importance of a world class keeper at this level. Alisson is the best in the world at one v ones and demonstrated that once more last night with a number of top saves, the pick of the bunch thwarting Griezmann when clean through on goal. One heart in mouth moment when his clearance ping-ponged around and somehow found it’s way back to him but Ali loves a moment like that most games doesn’t he? Keeps us on our toes! In all seriousness however, the guy is a class act and regularly makes the extremely difficult seem routine. We’d have lost that game last night with an inferior goalkeeper and for that reason, Ali has claimed last night’s McMOTM.
TAA (6.5) – Involved in some really nice build up play, some one touch passing in tight areas first half was a joy to watch. There seemed to be acres of space down our right hand side through, whenever Atletico attacked and Trent, amongst others, was guilty of being too passive defensively.
Matip (6) – Joel has been playing in third gear up to now this season but had to ramp up last night as the movement of Griezmann and Felix caused our CB’s trouble all night. Good in possession though as always.
Van Dijk (6) – The first bit of ring rust we’ve seen really, since Virgil returned from injury, as he was done by Griezmann’s runs on a couple of occasions and didn’t look his usual ice cool self. Will be disappointed not to have done better with a free header second half as well.
Robertson (6) – No lack of endeavour from Robbo but not his best game. Some sloppy passing and didn’t see too many attacking positions, although should have hit the target when he found himself in a good shooting opportunity second half. Better defensively though and embraced the physical battle with Atletico.
Henderson (6) – A bit all over the place from a positional sense in the first half, as there seemed to regularly be big gaps in our midfield and a disconnect between our midfield and defence. Improved second half when moved to the 8 position but poor delivery when he found himself in a good attacking position.
Keita (6) – Scored an absolutely sensational volley, his second of the season, to remind us once more of the talent he has but in truth that saved his score. Far too easily skipped past twice in the build up to their goals, the first in particular, you can’t let Lemar just run around you like that and you not even slow him down. His head had gone by the end of the half and nobody will have been surprised to see him hooked at half time, the second time that has happened this season as well. The enigma that is Naby Keita continues.
Milner (7) – The best of our midfielders on the night I thought, good link up play with Trent and Salah at times and Atletico’s style suits Milner down to the ground. Subbed after being booked however, as Atletico were going all out to get one of our boys sent off.
Salah (8) – You just can’t keep this man down right now as he grabbed himself another brace. Touch of good fortune with the deflection for the first, after he’d skipped past three players and then showed once again his mental fortitude to slot home such a high pressure penalty, after missing his last one.
Firmino (6) – Didn’t see much from him in an attacking sense as he was perhaps dropping a little too deep and getting involved in the midfield battle, as demonstrated by the fact it was Bobby who took the kick in the face from Griezmann which led to the red card, deep in our own half.
Mane (6) – Struggled to impact the game as most of both teams attacks were focused on our right side. Constantly fouled as well, with very little protection from the ref.
Subs:
Fabinho (7) – Made an instant impact as he expertly snuffed out an Atletico attack with his first involvement and brought some balance to our midfield after a chaotic first half.
Jota (6) – Won the penalty after a moment of madness from the Atletico defender and then almost immediately returned the favour. We were very lucky to get away with that one as there was definitely a nudge in the back. Don’t get me wrong, the Atletico player dived like Tom Daly and I suspect the exaggerated dive is what did for his penalty claims but once the ref had blown for it, was it a clear and obvious error for VAR to intervene? I’m not so sure it was if I’m being totally honest but I’ll take it all day long. Lucky boy Diogo.
Ox (7) – Something about Atletico seems to bring out the best in Ox. His last standout game for us was against them in that epic mugging at Anfield and I thought he made a difference when he came on last night. Intense and effective with his pressing and gave us another attacking dimension.
Gomez (N/A) – Brought on after Trent was booked but may have been anyway to try and shore up that right hand side and see the game out. Which he did.
Williams (N/A) – Another CL appearance to his name.
Kloppwatch (8) – I think we all questioned Fabinho’s omission from the team but as Klopp explained, he hadn’t trained with the team so that explained it. Clearly saw the need to bring him on at halftime however, as we all did. Alisson described Klopp as a maestro for his half time team talks and we so often see the team come out like a different team second half. His relationship with the media and BT Sport in particular, is becoming increasingly prickly however as he walked out of an interview last night.
Summary
Ok so far from a vintage display and a number of below par individual displays on the night but I think a bit of perspective is needed. There’s not a team or fan base in the world that doesn’t grimace at the prospect of Atletico away. It’s a horrible place to go, hostile atmosphere and you know the cheating, fouling and theatrics from both players and manager will be on from the start and then when you finally scrape through all the Burnley tactics and dark arts, turns out they’re actually a really good team as well.
We could criticise Virgil for example, for losing Griezmann on a couple of occasions but on the other hand, sometimes you have to acknowledge the quality of the opposition. Griezmann is a World Cup winner, he’s no mug and the timings of his runs were excellent. Joao Felix cost more than our entire back four combined!
Yet even despite all this, we’ve found a way to win. Klopp said in his post match interview that when you go to that stadium, he doesn’t care how you get the win and that was bang on for me. You fight and slog tooth and nail to get anything from Atletico away and that’s what we did and even when not playing particularly well, we ground out the result and that’s what champions do.
We rode our luck at times but every CL campaign has moments where it could have gone the other way. Olympiacos in 2005 when we were heading out before Stevie did what he did best. Alisson’s point blank save in the dying minutes against Napoli in 2019… There’s always twists and turns and that’s what makes the journey special.
United up next then and I really hope we just play our normal game and not the occasion. This United team are tailor made for us, top heavy with an ill disciplined midfield. If we just play our normal game to our normal standards, we’ll turn them over. Anyway until then, walk on troops!
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