Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita gave an early lead to Liverpool before Antoine Griezmann's brace leveled the score, but Salah scored a late winner from the penalty spot.
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Liverpool beat 10-man Atletico Madrid 3-2 in the Champions League group stage fixture on Tuesday courtesy of a brace from Mohmed Salah. It was an electric atmosphere at Wanda Metropolitano, and Liverpool scored two early goals through Salah and Naby Keita to silence the home crowd. But Antoine Griezmann scored a first half brace for the hosts to level the score before being sent off early in the second half. Salah scored in the 78 minutes from the penalty spot before a late VAR drama disallowed a spot kick for the La Liga champions.
Liverpool were coming into the match on the back of some impressive form and unsurprisingly broke the deadlock within eight minutes of kick-off through Salah’s individual brilliance. Andy Robertson’s over-hit cross was collected by Salah on the right flank. The Egyptian cut inside and skipped past three Atletico players before slotting the ball in from the edge of the box with the help of a little deflection from Geoffrey Kondogbia. Five minutes later, Keita doubled the lead with a stunning volley from the edge of the box.
Atletico had lost only one of their last 40 home games in all competitions and it didn’t take long for them to pull one back. Thomas Lemar skipped past Keita on the left side with the help of some quick footwork and his cut back reached Koke on the edge of the area. The Spanish midfielder’s drive through a crowd of bodies was glanced in by Griezmann from close range.
The biggest surprise in the Atletico playing eleven was the absence of Luis Suarez, who started on the bench. Atletico boss Diego Simeone started with Griezmann and Joao Felix up front and the selection was justified as the two front-man combined to equalize in the 34th minute. Felix skipped past Keita on the left side before finding Griezmann on the edge of the area. The Frenchman’s first touch allowed him to get past Virgil van Dijk and into the box before firing into the bottom corner.
After the equalizer, the hosts grew in confidence as Lemar was denied from close range by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Two minutes after the break, Mane’s header from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner was tipped over the bar by Jan Oblak. Immediately at the other end, Yannick Carrasco combined with Rodrigo De Paul to get inside the area but Alisson was quick to charge out and make the save.
But the turning point of the game came seven minutes into the restart, when Griezmann, watching a high ball, caught Firmino in the face with a high boot and was shown a straight red card. Liverpool sensed an opportunity and pushed for the winner against a man less Atletico. Van Dijk headed at goal, Robertson’s shot went over the bar and substitute Alex Oxlade-chamberlain’s attempt was Saved by Oblak. Simeone’s side defended exceptionally well until all the good work was undone by Hermoso’s silly foul on Diogo Jota inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Salah stepped up and converted the spot kick.
There was still time for some late drama, as Atletico’s penalty award was overturned after VAR intervention. The referee initially pointed to the spot after Jota had made contact with Gimenez inside the area, but then overturned the decision after checking in the side screen.
