In the Champions League Group B football match held on Tuesday night, Liverpool blew a two-goal lead but battled back to win 3-2 over 10 men Atletico Madrid. Mohamed Salah continued his late Ballon d’Or drive with a brace. Antoine Griezmann also scored two goals but was sent off in the second half for a reckless challenge.
Naby Keita extended the lead five minutes later with a superb strike from the edge of the Atletico box after Felipe failed to clear a basic cross. However, the hosts drew one back just before the 20-minute mark. Even though Thomas Lemar was in an offside position and prevented Joel Matip from blocking it, an Atletico corner broke to Koke on the edge of the Liverpool area, and his shot was deflected in by Antoine Griezmann.
Griezmann didn’t have to wait long to find the leveller. At the start of the second half, Oblak was stretched to keep away a Sadio Mane header, before Alisson came to Liverpool’s rescue to deny Yannick Carrasco from close range. Salah stepped up and sent Oblak the wrong way to restore Atletico’s advantage, but Jota tripped Jose Gimenez and Atletico believed they had a penalty of their own.
The referee reversed his decision after a lengthy VAR review, ruling that there was insufficient contact for the Uruguayan to be granted a penalty kick. Deep into injury time, Angel Correa had a half-chance to score, but he couldn’t keep his shot down, and Liverpool held on. Watch football highlights of the Champions League in which Liverpool win over Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid 2 – 3 Liverpool
Goals: 0 – 1 Salah 8, 0 – 2 Keita 13, 1 – 2 Griezmann 20, 2 – 2 Griezmann 34, 2 – 3 Salah 78
Bookings: Suarez; Milner, Alexander-Arnold
Sent off: Griezmann
Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Hermoso, Kondogbia, Felipe, Trippier, Carrasco, Koke, De Paul, Lemar, Joao Felix, Griezmann
Substitutions: Renan Lodi, Llorente, Correa, Gimenez, Suarez
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Keita, Henderson, Milner, Salah, Firmino, Mane
Substitutions: Gomez, Fabinho, Jota, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Williams
