Liverpool: 1x1 Atletico player ratings: Saúl and a wall
Simeone sprung a surprise by starting Lemar and Vrsaljko and his 4-4-2 was a brick wall that restricted Liverpool to eight shots, none of which were on target.
Oblak: A rare error from the keeper saw Liverpool put the ball in the net but the flag spared his blushes. Otherwise the Atlético keeper was largely a spectator and didn’t have to make a save, his first intervention coming in the 85th minute when he plucked a cross out of the air.
Vrsaljko: Involved in a running battle with Sadio Mané, who was taken off at half time on a yellow card, the Croatian was solid at the back but fluffed a decent chance in the second half.
Savic: Formed an impenetrable wall with Felipe and kept Roberto Firmino very quiet. Also initiated one of Atlético’s few attacking chances in the second half with a lovely cross field pass to Lodi.
Felipe: The summer signing has quickly become the leader of Atlético’s defence and one of the team’s. The Brazilian did well to block a Mo Salah shot in the first half that would turn out to be Liverpool’s best chance of the game.
Lodi: Deservedly picked up the man of the match award after an excellent game. Tested Liverpool’s defence with his attacking verve and kept a close watch over Salah that saw the frustrated Egyptian taken off on 70 minutes. Delivered a ball to Morata in the second half that could have been 2-0 but the Spaniard made a mess of his shot.
Koke: Provided the assist for the only goal of the game from the corner flag and was tireless in his work on the right during the first half before switching to the left in the second to help out defensively.
Thomas: Did his work in midfield and shielded the defence as well as driving the side forward when needed.
Saúl: As on so many occasions in the Champions League, it was a Saúl goal that settled the affair. The goal scorer also put in a shift defensively when Liverpool were in the ascendancy in the second half.
Lemar: A surprise inclusion, Lemar was deployed on the left to work with Lodi in keeping Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah under wraps. Substituted at half time for Marcos Llorente after an energy-sapping 45.
Correa: Instructed to stop Liverpool playing out from the back, the Argentinean put in a selfless shift and ran his socks off, earning an ovation from the stands when he went off.
Morata: Did well in terms of hold-up play and winning aerial duels when Oblak hit the ball long and carved out an excellent chance for himself in the first half that Alisson saved. A couple of chances in the second went begging, not least when he slipped in a promising shooting position. Taken off for Vitolo when flagging physically.
Substitutes:
Llorente: Came on for Lemar at half time and teed up Vrsaljko for a decent chance that the Croatian didn’t take.
Vitolo: Came on for Morata and tried to keep the ball in the Liverpool half when possible.
Diego Costa: The biggest cheer of the night after the goal was reserved for Costa, who made his long-awaited return after surgery and gave the whole stadium a lift.