JWSport Jacek Waszak – Sport journalist
The defending Liverpool trophy dropped out in 1/8th of the final of the Champions League, losing in their own stadium. Atletico Madrid won the exit from Liverpool after a 3:2 overtime and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. “The Reds” led 1:0 before the rematch.
The Madrid defeat three weeks ago started the “The Reds” crisis, which culminated yesterday’s overtime. Along the way, there were two tired wins in the home league, but also a 0:3 defeat against Watford in the Premier League, which ended a series of 44 league matches without a defeat, and elimination by Chelsea London from the FA Cup.
The first half was “The Reds” had the advantage, attacking more often and holding on to the ball, but that was not very impressive at Atletico.
In the 43rd minute, when he was shot with a headshot, Georginio Wijnaldum defeated him. The loss of the goal further disorganized Atletico’s game and it was getting hotter and hotter on the penal field. Andrew Robertson, among others, was one step away from the second goal and he hit the bar. Juergen Klopp’s team pressed very hard and the Spaniards sometimes knocked the ball out of their own goal.
In the 97th minute of overtime, the first word again belonged to Liverpool. After the charge of Wijnaldum and his centring, Roberto Firmino first headed for the pole, but his mark was already effective. Everything has changed. The next few minutes shook Anfield, because the guests made the impossible. But Adrian helped them. It was after his hopeless 2:1 technical ball hit by Marcos Llorente.
Marcos Llorente (97, 105+1) with two goals showed off with a proper blow from a distance.
Alvaro Morata (120+1) just before the final whistle he bumped the third goal still Liverpool
Diego Simeone’s team, although they lost 0:1, and even in the overtime, already 0:2, managed to make up for their losses and eliminate Liverpool – the defenders of the trophy – in 1/8th of the Champions League after winning 3:2.
I’m looking for the right words. Our main mistake was that we didn’t score the second goal in regular time, but only in extra time. The first 90 minutes were exceptional, the boys played great. When you look at all the goals we lost, it’s hard to explain it, to be honest. After the second hit the players’ legs got heavy. Everything that used to come naturally has now been stiffened. The passes were not of the same quality as before. The boys seem to have forgotten how to play the first ball pass, which was so wonderful before and gave us the first hit of the interview for Polsat Sport by coach Juergen Klopp
Atletico became the fourth quarter-finalist. After RB Leipzig, Atalanta and PSG, which on Wednesday made up for their losses and eliminated Borussia Dortmund. The Germans won 2:1 in the first match, but in the rematch – in an empty stadium in Paris – they lost 0:2. The goals for PSG were won by Neymar and Juan Bernat.
Liverpool – Atletico Madrid 2:3 after dogr. (1:0, 1:0).
The goals for Liverpool: Georginio Wijnaldum (43), Roberto Firmino (94).
Gates for Atletico: Marcos Llorente (97, 105+1), Alvaro Morata (120+1).
Stadium: Anfield, Liverpool for spectators: 52 267
Liverpool : Adrian, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Jordan Henderson (106′ Fabinho), Georginio Wijnaldum (105′ Divock Origi), Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain (82′ James Milner), Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino (113′ Takumi Minamino), Sadio Mane
Atletico Madrid : Jan Oblak, Kieran Trippier (90′ Sime Vrslajko), Stefan Savić, Felipe, Renan Lodi, Koke, Saul Niguez, Thomas Partey, Angel Correa (106′ Jose Gimenez), Diego Costa (55′ Marcos Llorente), Joao Felix (104′ Alvaro Morata)
