The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino tries to hurdle a challenge from Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez during last night’s Champions League knockout stage first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. Niguez scored the only goal of the game to give the Spani
Holders left with work to do in second leg at Anfield
ATLETICO MADRID 1 LIVERPOOL 0
Saul Niguez scored the only goal as Champions League holders Liverpool suffered a frustrating defeat to Atletico Madrid on their return to the Wanda Metropolitano.
Spain striker Niguez fired home after just four minutes to give Atletico the advantage after the first leg of their last16 tie against the 2019 champions.
Liverpool pushed and probed thereafter but failed to muster a single shot on target as Atletico retreated into a defensive rearguard action to thwart the Premier League leaders.
Despite having plenty of the ball, Jurgen Klopp’s men could not find a way through, making for an unhappy return to the venue where they won last year’s final.
Liverpool were left to rue a very sloppy start that saw Niguez pounce in the opening minutes.
The visitors had already been let off when a dangerous cross from the impressive Renan Lodi whistled just over Alvaro Morata’s head and was put behind for a corner.
There was no respite from the resulting set-piece as Koke’s delivery struck Fabinho and found its way to Niguez, who slid the ball past Alisson Becker from close range.
Liverpool had another scare soon after when Angel Correa got behind their shaky defence but his ball across goal found no one and thereafter Klopp’s side began to gain a grip.
They met with continual frustration, however, as Atletico sat back to absorb pressure and waste time whenever they could. For all Liverpool’s possession, the hosts were almost impossible to break down.
Mohamed Salah did put the ball in the net after a poor clearance from Jan Oblak but it was disallowed for offside against Roberto Firmino and it was almost half an hour before Liverpool had a serious shot.
That came from Andy Robertson and flew wide before Fabinho also missed the target. Good work by Firmino and Sadio Mane created an opportunity for Salah but his shot was deflected over.
Yet Atletico would not let Liverpool create any rhythm. They pushed again after the break and Salah should have done better when he headed wide at the back post from a Joe Gomez cross.
Time after time Liverpool were repelled in or around the Atletico box and their frustration increased with every injury or delayed throw-in.
For all that, Liverpool were almost caught out again when Lodi got behind the defence and crossed for former Chelsea striker Morata but Trent Alexander-arnold got back to clear.
Lodi also flashed a shot wide from distance.
Jordan Henderson tried to pick up the pace but dragged a shot wide and saw another driving run come to nothing.
The Reds captain left the field 10 minutes from time clutching his leg.
There was to be no way through and Liverpool, who have never lost a twolegged European tie under Klopp, were left with it all to do in the return leg at Anfield in three weeks.
In last night’s other first leg tie, Erling Haaland struck twice as Borussia Dortmund secured a 2-1 home victory over Paris St-germain.
The prolific Norwegian took his tally to 11 goals in seven matches on his Champions League debut for the Bundesliga side.
Neymar missed PSG’S best chance of the first half when he sent a free-kick wide, while Raphael Guerreiro and Jadon Sancho went close for the hosts.
Neymar was booked after the break for a clash with Axel Witsel as things got a little tetchy.
The visitors were beginning to dominate with Kylian Mbappe denied twice by Roman Burki.
But Haaland struck from close range in the 69th minute, cashing in on a rebound in the area.
Neymar equalised in the 75th minute when he converted a cross from Mbappe.
But just two minutes later Haaland fired Dortmund ahead again, lashing in a superb effort from the edge of the box into the top corner.
Neymar came agonisingly close to levelling for a second time but his effort clipped the outside of the post.