• ATLETICO MADRID RATINGS: Jan Oblak - 6: The Slovenian did not have much chance of stopping any of the goals. He made some fine saves but his distribution was poor. AFP
    ATLETICO MADRID RATINGS: Jan Oblak - 6: The Slovenian did not have much chance of stopping any of the goals. He made some fine saves but his distribution was poor. AFP
  • Kieran Trippier - 6: The Englishman made life difficult for Mane and was not shy of using underhand tactics. A combative display. PA
    Kieran Trippier - 6: The Englishman made life difficult for Mane and was not shy of using underhand tactics. A combative display. PA
  • Felipe - 5: The Brazilian was slack early on and his clearance gave Keita the opportunity to score. He improved later but will regret his slow start. Getty
    Felipe - 5: The Brazilian was slack early on and his clearance gave Keita the opportunity to score. He improved later but will regret his slow start. Getty
  • Geoffrey Kondogbia - 4: The 28-year-old was deployed out of position at centre back and did not look comfortable. He was replaced by Gimenez at half-time. Getty
    Geoffrey Kondogbia - 4: The 28-year-old was deployed out of position at centre back and did not look comfortable. He was replaced by Gimenez at half-time. Getty
  • Mario Hermoso - 2: The Spaniard was awful. He frequently wasted possession, defended awkwardly and barged over Jota to concede the penalty that gave Liverpool victory. AFP
    Mario Hermoso - 2: The Spaniard was awful. He frequently wasted possession, defended awkwardly and barged over Jota to concede the penalty that gave Liverpool victory. AFP
  • Thomas Lemar - 7: The Frenchman helped bring his side back into the game with the cross for the first goal and managed to find space throughout. He was a constant threat but was left with too much to do when Atletico went down to 10 men. AP
    Thomas Lemar - 7: The Frenchman helped bring his side back into the game with the cross for the first goal and managed to find space throughout. He was a constant threat but was left with too much to do when Atletico went down to 10 men. AP
  • Rodrigo De Paul - 6: The Argentinian produced some good touches going forward but neglected his defensive duties. He was withdrawn for Lodi with 10 minutes left. AFP
    Rodrigo De Paul - 6: The Argentinian produced some good touches going forward but neglected his defensive duties. He was withdrawn for Lodi with 10 minutes left. AFP
  • Koke - 4: The 29-year-old could not match Liverpool’s tempo. He needed to put his stamp on the game but failed in that task. AP
    Koke - 4: The 29-year-old could not match Liverpool’s tempo. He needed to put his stamp on the game but failed in that task. AP
  • Yannick Carrasco - 6: The Belgian was another who started sloppily but improved. He was better going forward but was forced to temper his ambitions after the red card. AFP
    Yannick Carrasco - 6: The Belgian was another who started sloppily but improved. He was better going forward but was forced to temper his ambitions after the red card. AFP
  • Antoine Griezmann - 6: The Frenchman ruined a splendid two-goal performance with a silly high foot that earned him an avoidable red card early in the second half. Graded down two marks for reckless stupidity. AFP
    Antoine Griezmann - 6: The Frenchman ruined a splendid two-goal performance with a silly high foot that earned him an avoidable red card early in the second half. Graded down two marks for reckless stupidity. AFP
  • Joao Felix – 7: The Portuguese showed his class and pace. His run and pass set up Griezmann to equalise. Withdrawn with 10 minutes left when Correa came on. AFP
    Joao Felix – 7: The Portuguese showed his class and pace. His run and pass set up Griezmann to equalise. Withdrawn with 10 minutes left when Correa came on. AFP
  • SUBS: Jose Maria Gimenez - 6: The Uruguayan replaced Kondogbia after the break. He was bundled over in the area by Jota and on other nights might have been awarded a penalty. Getty
    SUBS: Jose Maria Gimenez - 6: The Uruguayan replaced Kondogbia after the break. He was bundled over in the area by Jota and on other nights might have been awarded a penalty. Getty
  • Renan Lodi - 5: One of a quartet of 80th-minute substitutes. He replaced de Paul but was unable to have much impact. AFP
    Renan Lodi - 5: One of a quartet of 80th-minute substitutes. He replaced de Paul but was unable to have much impact. AFP
  • Angel Correa - 5: The Argentinian came on for Joao Felix with 10 minutes left. He had one chance but never quite got to the pace of the game. EPA
    Angel Correa - 5: The Argentinian came on for Joao Felix with 10 minutes left. He had one chance but never quite got to the pace of the game. EPA
  • Marcos Llorente - 5: The 26-year-old was sent on in the 80th minute in place of Hermoso. He produced a strong run down the line but the cross was aimless. Getty
    Marcos Llorente - 5: The 26-year-old was sent on in the 80th minute in place of Hermoso. He produced a strong run down the line but the cross was aimless. Getty
  • Luis Suarez - 5: The former Liverpool striker was desperate to get on the pitch but only saw 10 minutes of action when Lamar came off. He made one chance but displayed more anger than art. AFP
    Luis Suarez - 5: The former Liverpool striker was desperate to get on the pitch but only saw 10 minutes of action when Lamar came off. He made one chance but displayed more anger than art. AFP
  • LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 8: The Brazilian kept his team in the game, making three excellent saves in the first half and another in the second. A picture of composure in a chaotic match. EPA
    LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 8: The Brazilian kept his team in the game, making three excellent saves in the first half and another in the second. A picture of composure in a chaotic match. EPA
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold - 5: A difficult night defensively for the 22-year-old, especially before the break. He was replaced by Gomez with five minutes to go. AP
    Trent Alexander-Arnold - 5: A difficult night defensively for the 22-year-old, especially before the break. He was replaced by Gomez with five minutes to go. AP
  • Joel Matip - 5: The centre back was disoriented by the speed and movement of the counter-attacks. The pressure relaxed a little when the opposition went down to 10 men. EPA
    Joel Matip - 5: The centre back was disoriented by the speed and movement of the counter-attacks. The pressure relaxed a little when the opposition went down to 10 men. EPA
  • Virgil van Dijk - 5: The Dutchman lost Griezmann on the equaliser and was more uncertain than usual. He had a scoring chance with a header but directed the effort at Oblak. AFP
    Virgil van Dijk - 5: The Dutchman lost Griezmann on the equaliser and was more uncertain than usual. He had a scoring chance with a header but directed the effort at Oblak. AFP
  • Andy Robertson - 5: The Scot was energetic going forward but his delivery was imprecise. He stuck to his task when defending. AP
    Andy Robertson - 5: The Scot was energetic going forward but his delivery was imprecise. He stuck to his task when defending. AP
  • Jordan Henderson - 5: The captain seemed unsure of his role until Fabinho was brought on at half time. He gave the ball away more often than usual. AP
    Jordan Henderson - 5: The captain seemed unsure of his role until Fabinho was brought on at half time. He gave the ball away more often than usual. AP
  • James Milner - 7: The 35-year-old used all his experience to make his mark in midfield and he combined nicely with Salah. He was unfortunate to be booked, which led to him being replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 63rd minute. Reuters
    James Milner - 7: The 35-year-old used all his experience to make his mark in midfield and he combined nicely with Salah. He was unfortunate to be booked, which led to him being replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 63rd minute. Reuters
  • Naby Keita - 5: The Guinean scored a superb goal but did not do enough defensively. He could have done much better for both of Atletico’s goals and was replaced by Fabinho at half time. AFP
    Naby Keita - 5: The Guinean scored a superb goal but did not do enough defensively. He could have done much better for both of Atletico’s goals and was replaced by Fabinho at half time. AFP
  • Mohamed Salah - 8: The Egyptian maintained his mindblowing form with a brilliant opening goal and a perfectly-taken penalty to win the game. He was taken off in stoppage time when Williams came on to shore up the defence. AP
    Mohamed Salah - 8: The Egyptian maintained his mindblowing form with a brilliant opening goal and a perfectly-taken penalty to win the game. He was taken off in stoppage time when Williams came on to shore up the defence. AP
  • Roberto Firmino - 6: The Brazilian dropped back to supplement the midfield, which meant he was forced to neglect his attacking duties for periods. Griezmann was sent off for kicking him in the face. Reuters
    Roberto Firmino - 6: The Brazilian dropped back to supplement the midfield, which meant he was forced to neglect his attacking duties for periods. Griezmann was sent off for kicking him in the face. Reuters
  • Sadio Mane - 4: The Senegalese allowed himself to be distracted by the rugged treatment meted out by Atletico. It was no surprise when Jota replaced him in the 62nd minute. Getty
    Sadio Mane - 4: The Senegalese allowed himself to be distracted by the rugged treatment meted out by Atletico. It was no surprise when Jota replaced him in the 62nd minute. Getty
  • SUBS: Fabinho - 7: The Brazilian came on for Keita after half time and the midfield immediately looked more balanced. A calming, constructive influence. AP
    SUBS: Fabinho - 7: The Brazilian came on for Keita after half time and the midfield immediately looked more balanced. A calming, constructive influence. AP
  • Diogo Jota - 5: The Portuguese joined the action in the 62nd minute at the expense of Mane. He was fouled for the game-winning penalty but almost conceded a spot-kick at the other end moments later. Getty
    Diogo Jota - 5: The Portuguese joined the action in the 62nd minute at the expense of Mane. He was fouled for the game-winning penalty but almost conceded a spot-kick at the other end moments later. Getty
  • Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 7: The Englishman entered the fray with 27 minutes to go in place of Milner. He worked hard up and down the pitch and tested Oblak with a powerful shot. AFP
    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 7: The Englishman entered the fray with 27 minutes to go in place of Milner. He worked hard up and down the pitch and tested Oblak with a powerful shot. AFP
  • Joe Gomez – 6: The 24-year-old was brought on to replace Alexander-Arnold with five minutes to go. He was strong against Lodi. AFP
    Joe Gomez – 6: The 24-year-old was brought on to replace Alexander-Arnold with five minutes to go. He was strong against Lodi. AFP
  • Neco Williams - 6: Brought on for Salah in stoppage time. The 20-year-old was secure and even got forward to fashion a shooting chance. AFP
    Neco Williams - 6: Brought on for Salah in stoppage time. The 20-year-old was secure and even got forward to fashion a shooting chance. AFP

Sport

Football

Atletico Madrid v Liverpool ratings: Hermoso 2, Griezmann 6; Salah 8, Alisson 8

Fiery encounter in Spain sees Reds take control of their Champions League group

Tony Evans

October 20, 2021

  • English
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Mohamed Salah continued his blistering run of form by scoring twice in a 3-2 victory over 10-man Atletico Madrid as Liverpool took charge of Group B in the Champions League.

Salah gave Liverpool the lead with another splendid goal at the Wanda Metropolitano after dancing past three Atletico defenders and firing in to make it nine consecutive games the Egyptian has scored in.

But a wild contest in Madrid had several twists and turns still to come as Naby Keita doubled the advantage only for Atletico to strike twice before half-time, Antoine Griezmann pulling his team back into the match and leaving Liverpool looking temporarily dishevelled.

Yet Griezmann was sent off in the 52nd minute for a high foot into the face of Roberto Firmino and Liverpool made Atleti pay, a clumsy challenge by Mario Hermoso on Diogo Jota giving Salah the chance to win the game from the spot.

"The dirty three points are often the most important and they were dirty tonight," said Jurgen Klopp. "That wasn't our best football but it was an important step."

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

Updated: October 20, 2021, 5:13 AM
LiverpoolChampions LeagueAtletico Madrid