Atlético rope-a-dope Liverpool

That was one of the most one-sided games we've ever seen for 90 minutes, then Atlético seemed to come out as a different beast in extra time. That's the Profe Ortega effect on the player's bodies, and the Simeone effect on their minds. 

And that's it! Atlético are through! Liverpool, the European champions, are out! What a night of drama at Anfield! 

Simeone goes absolutely mental, just falling short of grabbing his crotch as he races across the field to salute the Atlético fans. 

The Spain striker breaks from nowhere and beats Adrián, who has had the worst 30 minutes of his career, with another low shot. 

A possible handball has Liverpool up in arms but the ref, who has been very whitle shy this evening, says no dice. 

Taken short, Alexnader-Arnold shoulder-barges Morata to the floor. He reacts by showing a bit of forehead and they both go in the book. 

Corner to Atlético. Novel. 

Not much time left for Liverpool now. Atlético, somehow, seem to be going through at the expense of the reigning champions. 

Milner delivers, Atlético clear. Milner then flattens Oblak, which is no mean feat, and has a couple of heated words with Savic. 

Mané! The indefatigable Senegal forward curls one just wide of the far post. 

Firmino off, Minamino on. 

Morata is down after a challenge. Koke trots over to seek instructions from Simeone. They are to jolly well stay back and not do anything stupid, by the looks of. 

Origi gets a sniff of goal and lets loose but it's wide of Oblak's near post. 

It's straight out though behind the goal before bending back in to provide Oblak with another chance to prove himself with a fine save from a header. 

Another corner for the hosts... 

Penalty appeal from Liverpool, noting given. It was more hopeful than anything. 

Corner for Liverpool after some good work from Firmino. Cleared by Atlético. Well, absolutely thumped clear right to the other end of the pitch. Don't think we'll be seeing much of this fancy-pants playing it out from the back stuff from the visitors from here on in. 

Origi and Fabinho coming on for Liverpool. No surprise here but Simeone takes off attacking player Correa and brings on another central defender in José Giménez. Henderson and Wijnaldum off for Liverpool, who now have four forwards on the pitch. 

A huge huddle for the Atlético players. A huge rollicking for Liverpool's from Klopp. The home side need two goals in 15 minutes to go through. 

And that's the half in extra time! 

Which does rather beg the question, why didn't Atlético try shooting before extra time. Because El Cholo is a tactical genius apparently. This is football rope-a-dope. 

Atlético break quickly from their own area and Morata finds Llorente on the edge of the opposition's. Liverpool stand off him and he picks his spot expertly! 

Firmino goes down hopefully in the area but the ref waves play on... 

Joao Félix goes off to an ovation from the travelling fans and Álvaro Morata comes on. 

It's all Liverpool again but the move breaks down as a pass is his straight out for a goal kick. 

Oblak decides to let a free kick go but he's mighty relieved as he sees it go out. It was a bit closer than he thought. 

More panic in the Atlético back line as Liverpool throw another cross in. This has been the least Atlético performance of the Simeone era. 

We're set up nicely now for the final 20-odd minutes. 

Does that make Simeone a tactical genius? 

Atlético have little option now but to attack... 

Atlético are under the cosh again straight away as Oblak makes a fine save from Wijnaldum. 

We're back underway. 

A very typical Simeone substitution. Vrsaljko on for Trippier. Still no sign of a striker. Penalties is the plan isn't it? 

And that's it! We go to extra time! 

Atlético have the ball in the net finally! But it's ruled out for offside. VAR isn't even bothering with that one, Saúl was a good deal ahead of the Liverpool defence. 

Free kick to Atlético as Félix is taken out. Last roll of the dice probably. Will Oblak make the trip to the opposition area? 

Salah with a fairly tame shot that Oblak gathers. Two minutes added. 

Salah attempts to hoodwink the ref by going down in the area but the official is not having any of it. 

Another corner for Liverpool. Atlético clinging on desperately in Anfield. 

Salah! Glorious from the Liverpool winger, who beats three defenders and then narrowly misses the top corner! 

This is unfathomable from Simeone. Five minutes left and Atlético still have no recognised striker on the pitch. 

Mané with a spectacular overhead that flies just over the bar. 

Oblak with yet another save. If Atleti do manage to sneak through here they'll have the big man to thank. 

James Milner on for the Ox. 

Robertson has Oblak momentarily worried with a strike from distance but it's well wide in the end.  

And that just about sums it up. Lodi does well to get to the byline and send in a perfectly attackable cross but there is no Atlético player there to attack it. 

Saúl wraps his boot around a ricochet but it's more danger to the corner flag than Adrián. He is one of several senior Atlético players who have disappeared in the second half. 

One angry man, Diego Costa. 

Liverpool turning the tables on Atleti now as they drop back and form a wall of red. Correa, who is cutting a very frustrated figure, commits a foul in the area as he tries to get on the end a ball. 

Atleti can't even get the ball to each other at the moment, let alone anywhere near Adrián's goal. 

Is Cholo really playing for penalties with potentially 50 minutes left? 

Another Liverpool corner. That's their 10th we think. No team can withstand this sort of onslaught, not even a Simeone Atlético side. 

Atleti play it long again. Liverpool simply nick it back and drive forward. It's one-way traffic at the moment. 

Oblak again! This is getting mildly ridiculous. It's as though Atleti have two men between the sticks! 

Another corner to Liverpoool. Oblak again called into action. Atlético are all over the place at the moment. If you discount the opposition half. 

Off the bar! Atlético escape! There's a right old ding-dong in the area and a header from Robertson is planted onto the woodwork with Oblak helpless! 

Surely it must be worth slinging Morata on and sending some crosses into the area? Every time Atlético play the ball forward at the moment Liverpool mop up with consummate ease. 

Atlético are getting into full Atlético Defcon five mood now as they commit two fouls in two seconds. Savic is pulled up for the second as he floors Mané. 

Ángel Correa is being deployed as a striker at the moment. Saúl responds by trying to beat Adrián from his own half. 

Atleti almost in! Félix with the initial shot and then Adrián is forced into a sprawling save to deny Trippier! 

Oblak again! What a performance this is from the Atlético keeper. Another one-handed stop to deny Liverpool a 2-0 lead. 

Free kick to Liverpool in a dangerous area as Thomas is pulled up for handball. He protests his innocence but the ref is having none of it. 

Diego Costa is far from amused as he is hooked for Marcos Llorente. That surely has to be an injury? But why a midfielder and not Morata? What has El Cholo got up his sleeve here? 

Free kick to Liverpool out on the left. Oblak once more saves Atleti's bacon with a punched clearance. 

Another Ox shot, another Oblak save. The Solvenian remonstrates with his defence for letting that one through. 

The Ox is gifted an opportunity as Lodi slips but the England international snaps at his shot and it's high and none too handsome. 

Oblak again! A wonderful save from a point-blank Mané shot but the lino had his flag up in any case. 

Salah! The Egyptian bursts through and warms Oblak's hands with a decent effort, but it was straight at the Atleti keeper. 

We're back underway at Anfield! 

After Costa's effort in the first minute of the game, only central defender Felipe has registered another shot for Atleti. Neither of them were on target. Adrián has been smoking his pipe, reading the paper, one foot planted on the post like a keeper in the 1920s. 

Oblak really kept Atleti in the game that half but Liverpool finally found a way through. What does Simeone do now? The visitors will have to be a bit more proactive going forward in the second 45. 

On balance, Liverpool deserve their lead. Atlético have not sat back to soak it up all game and have made some forays forward but Liverpool's sustained pressure has produced 12 attempts on goal to just two from the visitors. 

Atlético hoof it clear and the ref blows for the half! 

Corner for Liverpool. Probably the last kick of the half... 

Just the one minute added. 

For maths fans, that makes it 1-1 on aggregate. Atlético have been practicing penalties this week. 

It's a glorious delivery from the Ox and the Netherlands international hangs back near the penalty spot, picks his spot and angles a header past the despairing dive of Oblak! That was the first time the visiting defence had been caught out and they've paid dearly for it! 

The Ox tries his luck from distance but it's well wide and Oblak is content to keep half an eye on it without really looking that bothered. 

It's getting a little heated now as Alexander-Arnold steamrolls Félix and then shouts something in his face. We assume it wasn't an invitation for a nice cup of tea after the game. 

Another Liverpool corner and Atleti get it clear, just, before it's slung straight back in and Oblak is forced to fly into a thicket of flailing elbows to punch it clear. 

Correa is down in a heap after being run over by Henderson in midfield as he tried to break. That should probably be a yellow but the ref shows leniency. 

Oblak again! And that was a beauty! The Atleti keeper keeps Firmino's effort out with a glorious one-handed stop! Liverpool have another corner though... 

Oblak! Salah gets the better of Lodi as the Brazilian slips and tees up Mané, who gets some leather on his effort but hits it straight at the Atlético keeper, who mops up after making the initial save. 

Atleti work the ball into the box but Costa is shoved off balance as he was shaping to shoot. 

Atlético in the ascendancy now but twice the final ball was lacking. The visitors win a corner as Van Dijk cuts out Lodi's cross. 

Free for Atlético as Félix is flattened by Henderson. 

A few half hour stats: almost 70 percent of the ball for the home side. Not one foul from Atlético... six Liverpool shots with two on target. Atleti yet to test Adrián. 

That is why it is so gard to break down this Atleti side. Salah feeds Firmino and the Brazilian breaks towards goal. He is immediately surrounded by five black shirts, who force him to the touchline. 

It's a fizzing delivery but Felipe gets a firm header on it to clear. The follow up cross from van Dijk is straight out on the other side. 

Liverpool get another corner as Lodi nicks the ball off Salah's boot. 

Liverpool are unhappy as Costa picks up the ball in the area and then chucks it behind him. The Spain striker just smiles and walks off. 

There's a VAR penalty review after a melee in the area but it comes to nought. At least it didn't take four minutes like one during the Atlético-Sevilla game at the weekend. 

Ouch. Félix gets a boot right in the chest from Alexander-Arnold. 

And another as Saúl nods behind. Liverpool cranking up the pressure here. 

Mané wins a corner for Liverpool after a tussle with Savic. All Atleti personnel in the area. 

Felipe! The Brazil international has a point-blank header but misses from about two yards! 

67 percent possession for Liverpool. Atlético get the first corner of the game as Van Dijk deflects a Costa-bound ball behind. 

But the home side do get up the other end and it falls to Oblak to make a cracking save from the Ox! The Atleti keeper manages to palm it to safety in a crowded area, which is why he's considered the best keeper in the world. Making the save is one thing, making sure it doesn't fall to an opposition player with the goal gaping is another. 

Liverpool having trouble playing out from the back under the Atleti press. 

Salah has a pop from the edge of the area but it was always on the rise and doesn't trouble Oblak. 

Salah shows a bit too much of the ball to Lodi, who says thanks very much and helps himself to it. That will be a key battle this evening. 

The Atleti captain plays it short and Thomas plays in Trippier, who does well to get to it but can't do much more than guide the ball into the side netting at full pelt. 

Free kick to Atlético some way out as Joe Gomez gives Joao Félix a little shove. Koke to deliver... 

Poor from Savic as he aims a ball at a very offside Diego Costa, who duly ignores it. 

Uffff. Decent chance for Liverpool but Wijnaldum glances his header straight into the paws of Oblak. 

Liverpool with a period of possession but Atlético, as was to be expected, are set up like Fort Knox. The home side do manage to sling a cross in but the flag is up for offside. 

Here we go! And Atlético carve out a glorious chance from the kick-off! Joao Félix plays a defence splitting pass and Costa hits a shot narrowly wide of the near post! 

Looks like a drop of rain in Liverpool. Can Atleti do it on a wet Wednesday night? 

The teams are out and we're about to get underway. You'll Never Walk Alone booms out across the hallowed turf of Anfield. 

ATLÉTICO

Atlético Madrid: Why is Diego Simeone called 'El Cholo'?

Ever wondered where Simeone got his rather odd nickname? 

And Simeone's subs: Adán, Giménez, Morata, Lemar, Llorente, Carrasco, Vrsaljko.

Here's Liverpool's bench for this evening's game. Lonergan, Fabinho, Milner, Minamino, Lallana, Origi, Matip. Andy Lonergan is the back-up keeper. He has yet to make a single appearance for The Reds. 

El Profe Ortega, Atlético's much-admired and equally feared fitness coach, is giving one hell of a speech during the warm-up. With him, Mono Burgos and El Cholo snapping at your heels, no wonder Atlético players run themselves into the floor every single game. 

Meanwhile, Jürgen Klopp has really had enough of being asked about the coronavirus, which again dominated his pre-match press conference. His response to a Spanish journalist was difficult to fault. 

It's advantage Atlético historically between the sides, with two wins and two draws compared to one Liverpool victory. 

ATLÉTICO 1-0 LIVERPOOL | SIMEONE

Simeone on Atlético Madrid's Champions League win over Liverpool

Diego Simeone said that the Atlético fans were one of the key reasons behind their triump on home soil a couple of weeks ago. 

Will Anfield prove to be Liverpool's 12th man on another European night? 

So it's a 4-4-2 from Simeone, his tademark formation, with two banks of four to stymie Liverpool's attacking intent and the work-rate of Joao Félix between that and the batteting ram that is Diego Costa. 

And here's Atlético's XI. Diego Costa and Joao Félix get the nod up top with Álvaro Morata on the bench. Lodi, Felipe, Savic and Trippier form the back line. 

A stat for Liverpool fans: Jürgen Klopp has yet to lose a home Champions League game since arriving at Anfield. That said, a draw won't do the home side much good either. 

Here's confirmation of Liverpool's starting XI. No major surprises. No surprises whatsoever, in fact. 

Diego Simeone said in his press conference that he very much has a Plan B if Plan A doesn't work out. We're rather looking forward to what that might be. Liverpool will be missing Alisson for this evening's game, with Adrián deputising, so it may be just to pepper the back-up keeper with as many shots as possible. That seemed to work for Watford, and Alisson was between the sticks then. 

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Liverpool vs Atlético: preview, team news, predicted line-ups

If you'd like a wee preview, some teams news and out best guess about how the sides will line up this evening, you can have a read of our pre-match musings here. 

If you'd like a wee preview, some teams news and out best guess about how the sides will line up this evening, you can have a read of our pre-match musings here. 

There was some grumbling about Atlético's tactics last time out - and the perceived targeting of Sadio Mané, who didn't make it past the break after a first-half booking, but as regular observers of Simeone's side we can assure you that was nothing compared to what they can do when they're in the mood. The Dark Arts are bread and butter for these boys. 

Diego Simeone's side will aim to protect their one-goal lead from the opening leg in Madrid, courtesy of Saúl's early strike, against one of the best front threes in Europe. However, Liverpool have been suffering a mini-slump of late as they close in on the Premier League title and will be hard-pressed to break down Simeone's famous red and white wall. 

Hello and welcome to AS English's live coverage of the Champions League last 16 second leg match between Liverpool and Atlético Madrid from Anfield.