Atlético Madrid vs Liverpool summary: score, goals, highlights, Champions League Group B
Atlético Madrid vs Liverpool: Champions League as it happened
Peeep peeep peeep!
Liverpool can consider themselves very fortunate to have won a wild, entertaining, topsy-turvy game at the Wanda tonight. Having been initially dominant, they then found themselves on the end of a furious Atleti fightback, and needed Antoine Griezmann’s second-half red card to wrest back control of the game.
Mohamed Salah’s spot-kick winner leaves the Reds with nine points from nine in Group B, and with one foot in the next round. Atlético, who didn’t deserve to lose, are now level on four points with Porto, who have beaten AC Milan tonight. They face a fight to ensure their passage to the last 16.
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Suárez is booked for giving the referee a little bit too much back chat.
Correa misses a fine chance to level! It's lovely build-up play by Atlético, who work it out wide before playing it back inside for Suárez, who tees up Correa on the edge of the box... but he shoots over!
Liverpool replace Salah with Neco Williams.
Koke drifts a ball wide to the left to Lodi, who heads it on towards Suárez on the edge of the box. The flag is up against Lodi, though.
Six minutes of time added on stand between Liverpool and a first Champions League win over Atlético, at the fifth attempt.
Llorente does wonderfully well to burst into space down the right and drive towards the byline, before clipping the ball into the Liverpool box. Suárez is waiting in the middle, but he's surrounded by yellow shirts and the visitors clear with relative ease.
Liverpool replace Alexander-Arnold with Joe Gomez.
And now Atlético are awarded a penalty! Jota, the man fouled for the Liverpool spot-kick, is deemed to have bundled over Giménez as the pair challenged for Lodi's left-wing free-kick delivery.
There's a long old VAR review - it's certainly not as clear a penalty as the previous one - and, in the end, Siebert is told to go over to the pitchside monitor and have another look at it.
After a second, third, fourth look... he cancels the penalty award! What an evening of drama we've had at the Wanda.
Indeed it is. Hermoso, Joao Félix, De Paul and Lemar make way for Ángel Correa, Luis Suárez, Marcos Llorente and Renan Lodi.
It looks like that triple Atlético substitution will now be a quadruple one, and a more attacking one at that.
Penalty to Liverpool! To say it's a cheap one would be being kind to Mario Hermoso.
The visitors punt a high, innocuous-looking ball into the Atlético box. It looks very difficult for Jota to do anything with it, but Hermoso has an absolute brain fart and barges the forward over. Stonewall spot-kick.
Simeone is busy doing a bit of his trademark crowd-conducting, waving his arms furiously in a bid to raise the decibels among the home fans. The Atlético boss is preparing a triple change.
Unsurprisingly, it's mostly being played in the half of the 10 men of Atlético. That said, the hosts are still looking pretty dangerous when they break - and the tireless Carrasco leads a counter down the left, before getting his pass to Joao Félix wrong. A shame; the Portuguese had taken up a good position at the top of the box.
Lemar loses it to Firmino just inside the Atlético half, giving the Brazilian the opportunity to charge towards the box and feed the ball left to Jota. Jota's first touch isn't great, though, and the chance is lost.
Atlético's Mario Hermoso is massively struggling after a clash with Fabinho a couple of minutes ago, and is going to have to come off.
That's nice play by Oxlade-Chamberlain, who exchanges passes with Salah before continuing into the box and firing low towards goal, but it's too close to Oblak and the goalkeeper grabs hold of it.
Alexander-Arnold robs the ball from Koke, advances towards the Atlético box and fires over, but controlled the ball with his hand and is booked.
Liverpool make a double change, bringing on Diogo Jota and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Mané and Milner.
Alisson has to look alive to turn Felipe's shot past his post when the defender connects with a right-wing free-kick delivery - but he was offside.
A minute later, Alisson again has to be on his mettle to scamper out of his box and head clear before Carrasco gets on the end of a long ball forward.
Milner is booked for catching Trippier with a flailing arm. Simeone also goes into the referee's notebook, for giving him a little bit too much lip. The pair than have a long conversation, presumably about the Griezmann red card.
Alexander-Arnold flights a corner into the Atlético box, where Van Dijk rises highest - but heads straight at Oblak.
Moments later, Robertson lashes a shot at goal from the corner of the Atleti box, but it's well over.
Red card for Griezmann!
He catches Firmino in the face with a high boot as he goes for a dropping ball, and Daniel Siebert gives him his marching orders! It's very obviously unintentional - the Frenchman clearly has his eyes on the ball as he stretches out a leg to connect with it - but he's off. The incident is fairly reminiscent of that Nani red card in a Champions League tie between Manchester United and Real Madrid a few years back.
This could change everything. Liverpool have been having a terrible time of it since about the 15-minute mark, but are now a man up.
At the other end, Atlético are so close to taking the lead! De Paul's neat little ball slips Carrasco in behind the Liverpool defence and into the box, but Alisson makes himself big to deny the Belgian at his near post!
Liverpool start the second half on the front foot, Alexander-Arnold winning a corner off Hermoso on the right. Mané gets his head to the right-back's delivery - and for a moment it looks like it's flying into Oblak's top corner, only for the Slovenian to get fist to the ball and beat it out! Fine save from Oblak.
Peeep! Back up and running.
Fabinho and Giménez are indeed on.
Teams back out at the Wanda
Fabinho looks like he's getting ready to come on for Liverpool, with Naby Keïta making way. Atlético also appear to be readying themselves to make a change, with José María Giménez replacing Kondogbia in the back three.
Salah makes Liverpool history
It seems UEFA have finally opted to give Liverpool's opening goal to Salah, which means the Egyptian is the first player to score in nine games in a row for the Reds.
He also draws level with Steven Gerrard's record haul of 30 Champions League goals for Liverpool.
Peeep peeep peeep! We've witnessed what can only be described as a half of two halves in Madrid. A fabulous 45 minutes of football. Having been two down and totally under the cosh, Atlético have now turned it around to level and, if Klopp doesn't change things at half time, you'd have to fancy Los Rojiblancos to go on and win this.
Two minutes of time added on at the Wanda.
Alisson almost has an absolute 'mare when he steps out of his box to sweep up a long ball through to Griezmann. His clearance rockets back off Van Dijk but, thankfully for Alisson, lands at the goalkeeper's feet.
Moments later, Lemar receives Carrasco's low cross into the box in plenty of shooting space, but a crucial Alisson hand blocks the Frenchman's attempt to dink it into the net.
Liverpool would probably quite like the half-time whistle.
Every time Atlético break, they look like scoring. Robertson chips a ball towards Salah on the edge of the Atleti box, but it's easily cleared - and suddenly Joao Félix is charging into acres of space down the left. He cuts inside before arrowing a shot towards Alisson's far post, but - at the second attempt - the Brazilian grabs hold.
As the late, great Jimmy Greaves would say, it's a funny old game. Having been utterly, utterly second best for the first 15 minutes, Atlético have confidence coursing through their veins now. Lemar produces a neat bit of skill to jink away from Alexander-Arnold on the left wing, but his cross can't find a red and white shirt. De Paul then shoots from range, but his effort is well off target.
And there's the equaliser! What a first half in Madrid.
Joao Félix wriggles away from a gaggle of yellow shirts on the left, before slipping it into Griezmann on the edge of the Liverpool box. Griezmann's first touch out of his body is a thing of beauty, taking out Van Dijk and giving the Frenchman the space he needs to drive into the area and finish low past Alisson. Lovely goal.
All square at the Wanda!
For about a quarter of an hour, it looked like Atlético could be on the end of a hiding. But Diego Simeone's men have now realised they can get at the Reds going forward, and it's a different game.
Alexander-Arnold swings a right-wing free-kick into the middle, where it's cleared only as far as Keïta. He heads it back into the danger area, but no-one can get a touch to it and it dribbles behind for a goal-kick.
That's a great save by Alisson, who prevents Griezmann from equalising! At one end, Liverpool want a free-kick on the edge of the Atleti box but don't get it, and suddenly a long ball releases Griezmann in behind the visiting defence. He's in his own half when the pass is played, so can't be offside - but Alisson parries! What a chance for the hosts to level.
Liverpool get their foot back on the ball, keeping it for a good minute or two before it's knocked down to Firmino some 25 yards out. He controls the bouncing ball before letting fly, but it's well over.
Now it's Atlético who have their tails up. Los Rojiblancos get Joao Félix scampering forward down the left at a backpedalling Liverpool backline... but his pass into the middle to Lemar is well cut out by Henderson.
Atlético have got themselves back in it! Griezmann taps in from close range.
Lemar produces a lovely drop of the shoulder on the left to jink inside his man and cut it back from the byline. It runs all the way through to the top of the box, where it's played back into the area - and Griezmann turns it into the net!
After a long VAR check to see whether the offside Lemar also touched it, Daniel Siebert gives the goal!
Decent start to this game, you'd have to say.
For the first time basically since the first minute, Atlético get the ball long enough to mount an attack. Trippier swings over a deep cross from the right, which Koke is winding up to strike, but Alexander-Arnold gets it away. Moments later, Joao Félix almost connects with a cross from the left.
Atlético just cannot deal with Liverpool. Again the Reds hare forward, working it to Salah on the right. He plays it quickly into the middle, but it's just too far ahead of Mané.
Simeone can be seen making calm-down gestures to his players, who haven't really had a sniff so far.
2-0 to Liverpool! Keïta with a fabulous effort!
In the blink of an eye, the visitors are two to the good. Alexander-Arnold steps forward and swings a ball into the middle, where Firmino can't bring it under his spell. However, the loose ball drops to Keïta on the edge of the area, and he absolutely larrups it past Oblak and into the corner.
Liverpool in total charge at the Wanda.
The goal does appear to have been given to Milner, so there's no nine-in-a-row club record for Salah - for now, at least.
Liverpool's tails are up, and Salah is immediately haring at the Atlético defence in search of a second. He gets to the byline before pinging the ball low into the middle, but the hosts clear.
Liverpool lead! Fabulous play by Salah!
Salah cuts in from the right, evading one, two, three challenges on the edge of the Atlético box before shooting low towards Oblak's far corner. Salah's shot actually seems to get a touch off Milner on its way into the net - but, either way, it's absolutely fantastic stuff from the Egyptian, who really is in the richest of rich veins of form.
That early Carrasco forward foray aside, it's been all Liverpool ball so far. Not a sniff of real danger from them yet, though.
Again Liverpool have it in the Atlético half, but Milner's low through ball down the left wing is asking too much of Mané, who gives Trippier a little shove as the right-back shepherds it behind. Trippier ain't happy.
Liverpool, who are decked out all in yellow, enjoy their first spell of prolonged period in the Atlético half. Salah tries to clip an outside-of-the-boot ball to Mané, who's waiting at the top of the box, but Felipe is there to boot it away.
Atlético Madrid are straight on the attack, João Félix releasing Yannick Carrasco into space to scamper forward on the left. Carrasco cuts inside before looking to slip a low ball into the box, but Liverpool get it clear.
Peeep! Underway in Madrid!
Out come the teams!
The teams are out at a Wanda Metropolitano that is packed to the rafters - and what a lovely sight that is.
Anthem done, handshakes done, coin toss done... it's almost time to go!
Our match referee is Germany's Daniel Siebert.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Real Madrid: live with AS USA
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Atlético Madrid vs Liverpool: preview, times, TV, how to watch online
If you're wondering how you can tune into tonight's game on TV or steam it online, let me point you in the direction of our guide on how and where to watch.
Milestone appearance for Firmino
Salah's striker partner Roberto Firmino isn't in too bad nick himself, having grabbed a hat-trick - from a cumulative distance of about a yard - in the win over Watford.
Tonight will be Firmino's 300th appearance in all competitions for Liverpool.
(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
In-form Salah has Liverpool records in his sights
That Mohamed Salah’s form was among the topics discussed in both Jürgen Klopp and Diego Simeone’s press conferences is little surprise. Together with Karim Benzema, he's surely the most on-fire forward around right now.
Salah has 10 goals in 10 games for Liverpool so far this season, and after netting another fantastic solo effort in the weekend demolition of Watford (I prefer the one against Manchester City, though) the Egyptian can tonight become the first ever player to find the target for the Reds in nine straight games.
Salah is also one goal away from equal Steven Gerrard’s record haul of 30 for Liverpool in the Champions League.
(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Atlético Madrid vs Liverpool: 3,000 reds fans travel for Champions League
AS reporters Jennifer Bubel, Diana Velayos and Oli Povey were out and about in central Madrid this afternoon, speaking to some of the 3,000 Liverpool fans who are in the Spanish capital for tonight's clash.
You can also watch a video of our interviews with Liverpool fans here.
What the coaches said: Diego Simeone, Atlético Madrid
Does it affect Atlético Madrid that they haven’t played for such a long time?
“On the contrary, we’ve got a lot of games in the next 17 days and it was a help to the lads that they were able to stay and work [on the training ground] and get over physical issues.”
What do you have to say about Jürgen Klopp’s criticism of Atlético Madrid’s style of play?
“Nothing.”
Mohamed Salah:
“I’m most concerned about the match against Liverpool as a whole. Salah is an extraordinary footballer who has been doing great things in the Premier League and the Champions League for years.”
(Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
What the coaches said: Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool
On-fire Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances:
“That after the two goals he scored, now people think all of a sudden that he could be the best player in the world is a bit strange. He's scored goals like this before and he's performed for years on an incredibly high level. My concern is, first and foremost, that he will do it again and again and again and again.”
Atlético Madrid’s style of play:
“The problem with Atletico is the mix of the quality they have and desire they show. I said it now before, would it be the exact style I want to play? No, but I couldn't. I'm not the person for it, I could not ask for it. But we are all different and that's why it's completely fine. It's not about me to judge it or whatever, we have to face it and we will face it.”
(Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Midfielder Kondogbia plays in defence for Atleti, Alisson returns for Liverpool
There are four changes to the Atlético Madrid side that beat Barcelona in their last match, some 17 days ago now. With José María Giménez unfit to start and Stefan Savic suspended, Mario Hermoso is joined in the back three by Felipe and makeshift centre-back Geoffrey Kondogbia, while Kieran Trippier and Antoine Griezmann also return to the Atleti XI.
Luis Suárez is among those who drop to the bench - as is Marcos Llorente, whose double at Anfield 18 months ago knocked Liverpool out of the 2019/20 Champions League, and launched his Atlético career.
For Liverpool, there is one change to the team that thumped Watford 5-0 at the weekend, as goalkeeper Alisson Becker returns to availability and steps in for Caoimhin Kelleher.
Liverpool team news
Starting line-up: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Keïta, Salah, Firmino, Mané
Atlético Madrid team news
Starting line-up: Kondogbia, Felipe, Hermoso, Trippier, Llorente/De Paul, Koke, Lemar, Carrasco, Griezmann, João Félix
Atlético Madrid vs Liverpool: preamble
Hello! Welcome to our live coverage of Atlético Madrid and Liverpool’s matchday three clash in Champions League Group B, which kicks off at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano at 9pm CEST/3pm ET.
After wins in their first two Champions League games this term, leaders Liverpool can take a big step towards last-16 qualification tonight - particularly if the group’s bottom two, AC Milan and Porto, take points off each other.
However, hosts Atlético, who sit two points behind Liverpool in Group B after drawing with Porto and beating Milan, are not a side the Reds have enjoyed facing in the Champions League.
The 2018/19 tournament winners have never beaten Atleti in Europe’s top club competition, and lost home and away to Diego Simeone’s men on their way to a last-16 defeat to Los Rojiblancos two seasons ago.
Anyway, the teams are in at the Wanda, so let’s take a look at them.