Neymar moves up the gears to leave Liverpool in peril
PARIS — Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hit out at the referee and Neymar as his side slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday that leaves last season’s runner-up dangerously close to an early Champions League exit.
Juan Bernat and Neymar scored to put PSG in control in the first half in the French capital, before a James Milner penalty for the Reds on the stroke of halftime ensured this pivotal game remained in the balance until the death.
PSG knew a defeat here coupled with an unfavorable result in the night’s other Group C game could see the ambitious Qatar-owned club eliminated already.
But instead it is Liverpool — beaten in each of its last five games away from Anfield in the Champions League — who now seems the more likely to miss out on the last 16.
“When you saw their lineup, the approach they chose was full risk, especially in the beginning, to try everything as long as your legs carry you. The quality they have meant it was obviously quite intense to deal with,” admitted Klopp.
He acknowledged that his team had not been good enough, but hinted that a “clever” Neymar had play-acted to break the game up. He was also unhappy at Polish referee Szymon Marciniak for not sending off Marco Verratti for a tackle on Joe Gomez in the first half.
“For me it’s a red card. I look like a bad loser, but I don’t care,” said Klopp.
“Tonight we looked like butchers when you look at how many yellow cards we had. It was clever from PSG, especially Neymar, but a lot of others went down like it was something serious and we were not that calm anymore.”
With Napoli beating Red Star Belgrade 3-1 in the night’s other Group C match, Liverpool must now win 1-0 or by two goals at home to the Italians in two weeks’ time if it is to progress.
Such a regression in Europe would be a big blow to Liverpool, even if it helps it in the Premier League by reducing its workload.
Meanwhile, PSG heads to Belgrade for its last game still needing to win to be certain of advancing, but at least it
Atletico, Dortmund ease into last 16
Atletico Madrid clinched its place in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday by beating Monaco 2-0 at home while also ensuring that Thierry Henry’s hapless visitor will now even miss out on qualification for the Europa League.
Koke scored Atletico’s fastest-ever Champions League goal within two minutes and Antoine Griezmann added a second after 25 before any hopes of a late Monaco comeback were ended with Radamel Falcao’s 83rd-minute missed penalty.
The win meant that Atletico, which was knocked out of the group stage of Europe’s elite competition last season, advanced to has its fate in its hands.
“It was our last chance to show that we are capable of competing with a team like Liverpool, a team with an incredible mentality,” said PSG coach Thomas Tuchel.
“Everyone was ready to suffer for each other. That was necessary against Liverpool and it was a big step forward for us.”
Reds run ragged
PSG had only won one of its previous seven games in the competition. However, Klopp’s side was completely overrun in the opening stages at Parc des Princes.
Winger Angel di Maria had forced a fine save from Reds goalkeeper Alisson with a dipping volley before the host took a 13th-minute lead.
Kylian Mbappe tried to square for Edinson Cavani, but the ball broke to Bernat, and the Spaniard swept home.
Verratti’s robust challenge on Gomez came midway through the first half, but after the Italian international escaped with just a yellow card, PSG went on to double its lead thanks to a clearly the knockout stage, leading Group A with 12 points from five games.
Borussia Dortmund drew 0-0 at home to Club Brugge to also advance but Diego Simeone’s Atletico will have a two-point lead at the top of the group when it visits Brugge, and Monaco hosts Dortmund in the final round of games.
“We needed to get through the group, and since this Champions League began, we hit the ground running because of what happened last year,” Simeone said.
“Apart from in Dortmund where we fell apart (losing 4-0) this has been a very good campaign, which is pleasing because all wound-up Neymar.
He had been drawing fouls from opponents and whipping up a fervent home crowd before he burst down the left in the 37th minute, combining with Mbappe.
The France star crossed low for Cavani, whose attempt was saved by Alisson, but Neymar converted the rebound.
That should have ensured a comfortable cushion for the host at the break, but Liverpool was gifted a route back in first-half stoppage time.
Di Maria fouled Sadio Mane just inside the area. The referee did not initially give a penalty but then rightly changed his mind, and Milner beat Gianluigi Buffon from 12 yards.
PSG sat back more and more in the second half, although it still came closest to scoring again from a Marquinhos header, and its win was fully deserved.
“We were not worried about playing at home. We know how strong we are and we always knew we could do it,” said Mbappe. Champions League games are tough.
“Today, we played very well until the 70th minute, we tried to cause them damage by being as mobile as we could as they were sitting back. Then we ran out of energy and they grew into the game.”
Monaco is guaranteed to finish bottom of the group but new boss Henry can at least now fully focus on trying to keep the 2017 Ligue 1 champion in France’s top flight.
“We were very timid in the first half and their early goal didn’t help us,” said the France and Arsenal great.