SPOT-ON SALAH SETTLES CLASSIC
Liverpool survive Atletico comeback in crazy clash
THE history books will remind us one day that this was a record-breaking night for Mo Salah. Scoring twice to become the first Liverpool player to find the net in nine successive games, it was a remarkable achievement by the Egyptian.
But numbers don’t tell us all we need to know about games like this, when football presents itself as the most exhilarating, exciting, unpredictable sport of them all.
After the thrilling knockout tie edged by Atletico at Anfield in March 2020, these teams presented us with another classic. Goals, ebb and flow, frantic and sudden lurches in direction and, of course, controversy.
Liverpool won it and are in charge of a tough group at the halfway stage. But how they did so takes some recounting. Two up after an early whirlwind — Salah and Naby Keita the scorers — Jurgen Klopp’s team were hauled back to parity by a double from Antoine Griezmann. And it wasn’t even half time.
With the Wanda Metropolitano energised, Liverpool almost inexplicably seemed to have a long night ahead of them. They were reeling. But when Griezmann was sent off in the 52nd minute for a high kick on Roberto Firmino, the balance shifted again.
Salah’s penalty — correctly awarded when sub Diogo Jota was bundled over with 15 minutes left — was enough to edge it, but that was not the end.
Atletico were awarded a penalty of their own and Liverpool’s old flame Luis Suarez — just off the bench — looked as though he may take it. That would have been some story in itself.
However, VAR intervened to incense the crowd further. It appeared Jose Gimenez had dived under pressure from Andrew Robertson. Correct decision? Yes. Fair result? Maybe.
Atletico boss Diego Simeone did not shake hands with Klopp afterwards, the Liverpool boss saying: ‘We don’t like that but, yes, the situation is clear. I want to shake his hand. His reaction for sure, like mine, was not so cool. The next time we see each other we will shake hands, definitely. It’s nothing. He was obviously angry, not with me but with the game. There is nothing else.’
On the crucial penalty decisions, he added: ‘I saw it and our penalty is a penalty. I think the other one is not a penalty but I didn’t expect it. I think it’s the right decision.
‘The red card was for sure unlucky but it is a red card. A foot in the face. It can happen. It was a tough game. Honestly, how we win it, I couldn’t care less! On a night like this, getting three points is really nice.’
After only 15 minutes, the Spanish side were two down and Simeone’s face was a mixture of disbelief and fury.
Liverpool were threatening more goals. All in yellow, Klopp’s team had swarmed through the middle of Atletico’s defence like bees, scoring after eight and 13 minutes.
Salah was fundamental, of course. It was his run right to left across the top of the opposition penalty area that led to the first goal. Three defenders tried to stop him and when the forward shot low from 18 yards or so, James Milner opened his body to turn the ball into the goal. Salah’s shot was on target but in all likelihood would not have gone in.
It seemed right that Milner should claim the goal, even though UEFA seemed happy to award it to Salah.
There was more to come, too. Atletico were rattled. Liverpool too quick and with too great an appetite.
Five minutes later the lead was doubled. Trent Alexander-Arnold fed the ball into the penalty area and when the Brazilian Felipe could only clear it to the edge of the area, Keita lashed it back into the corner of the goal on the half-volley.
The Guinean midfielder recently scored in similar fashion against Crystal Palace and, after making such a limited impact during his time at Anfield, will hope this marks the start of something better. And yet, as Atletico mounted a comeback that had seemed at best unlikely, he was one of the Liverpool players found a little wanting.
Behind so early, Simeone’s players did not look particularly ready to respond. However, it transpired that they only needed one spark — and they found it when Thomas Lemar eased past Keita after a short corner in the 20th minute and pulled the ball back to Koke on the edge of the penalty area.
Just like Salah’s effort earlier, his low shot may not have gone in, yet Griezmann nudged it home from three yards.
Liverpool needed a period of calm with which to douse Spanish fire. But couldn’t find it. Instead they suddenly looked vulnerable.
Griezmann then scored 11 minutes before half-time after Joao Felix had held off Keita too comfortably down the left.
Liverpool were hanging on and it was as they hurriedly cleared their lines once more at the start of the second half that Griezmann made his third critical intervention.