• LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 7: The Brazilian did not have a lot to do but he was assured in his handling and sharp off his line when necessary. EPA
    LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 7: The Brazilian did not have a lot to do but he was assured in his handling and sharp off his line when necessary. EPA
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8: The 23-year-old set up both goals, the first with a penetrating cross and the second with a miscued shot. He was rarely worried defensively. PA
    Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8: The 23-year-old set up both goals, the first with a penetrating cross and the second with a miscued shot. He was rarely worried defensively. PA
  • Joel Matip - 7: The centre back enjoyed an easy night on his return to the side. His only disappointment was a late, underserved booking. AFP
    Joel Matip - 7: The centre back enjoyed an easy night on his return to the side. His only disappointment was a late, underserved booking. AFP
  • Virgil van Dijk - 7: The Dutchman was in cruise control. He hardly broke sweat and was rarely tested by the Atletico attack. EPA
    Virgil van Dijk - 7: The Dutchman was in cruise control. He hardly broke sweat and was rarely tested by the Atletico attack. EPA
  • Kostas Tsimikas - 7: The Greek was committed, combative and effective up and down the line. He ensured Trippier could not get forward with any frequency. Reuters
    Kostas Tsimikas - 7: The Greek was committed, combative and effective up and down the line. He ensured Trippier could not get forward with any frequency. Reuters
  • Fabinho - 7: The team is so much stronger when the Brazilian is playing. He cut out danger at source and used the ball cleverly. He was replaced by Thiago after an hour as he is being nursed back after injury. EPA
    Fabinho - 7: The team is so much stronger when the Brazilian is playing. He cut out danger at source and used the ball cleverly. He was replaced by Thiago after an hour as he is being nursed back after injury. EPA
  • Jordan Henderson - 8: Fabinho’s return freed the captain to play on the right, a position where he is comfortable. His link play with Alexander-Arnold was excellent. EPA
    Jordan Henderson - 8: Fabinho’s return freed the captain to play on the right, a position where he is comfortable. His link play with Alexander-Arnold was excellent. EPA
  • Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 7: The 28-year-old relished his starting role after spending so much time as a substitute. He drove forward and tracked back with energy and came off with 12 minutes left to be replaced by Minamino. PA
    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 7: The 28-year-old relished his starting role after spending so much time as a substitute. He drove forward and tracked back with energy and came off with 12 minutes left to be replaced by Minamino. PA
  • Mohamed Salah - 8: The Egyptian had chances and failed to score. He could have played Jota in on a couple of occasions, too. But that is only half the story. The striker caused Hermoso to pick up a yellow card early on and spread fear and confusion throughout the defence. EPA
    Mohamed Salah - 8: The Egyptian had chances and failed to score. He could have played Jota in on a couple of occasions, too. But that is only half the story. The striker caused Hermoso to pick up a yellow card early on and spread fear and confusion throughout the defence. EPA
  • Diogo Jota - 7: The Portuguese scored a superb header and should have had another when the ball hit his shoulder. He was busy and dangerous. AP
    Diogo Jota - 7: The Portuguese scored a superb header and should have had another when the ball hit his shoulder. He was busy and dangerous. AP
  • Sadio Mane - 8: The Senegalese was targeted by Atletico and punished them with a goal. He also showed a willingness to engage in battle and was replaced at half time by Firmino as a precaution against picking up a second yellow card. PA
    Sadio Mane - 8: The Senegalese was targeted by Atletico and punished them with a goal. He also showed a willingness to engage in battle and was replaced at half time by Firmino as a precaution against picking up a second yellow card. PA
  • SUBS: Roberto Firmino - 7: The Brazilian joined the action for the second half for Mane and enjoyed the space offered by 10 men until he suffered a hamstring injury and had to go off with 12 minutes to go. Replaced by Origi. EPA
    SUBS: Roberto Firmino - 7: The Brazilian joined the action for the second half for Mane and enjoyed the space offered by 10 men until he suffered a hamstring injury and had to go off with 12 minutes to go. Replaced by Origi. EPA
  • Thiago Alcantara - 6: The 30-year-old replaced Fabinho on the hour but did not look sharp after his injury layoff. He was sloppy on the ball but will be better for the runout. AP
    Thiago Alcantara - 6: The 30-year-old replaced Fabinho on the hour but did not look sharp after his injury layoff. He was sloppy on the ball but will be better for the runout. AP
  • Divock Origi - 6: The Belgian came on for Firmino after 78 minutes. He chased the ball, worked hard and showed his strength. AP
    Divock Origi - 6: The Belgian came on for Firmino after 78 minutes. He chased the ball, worked hard and showed his strength. AP
  • Takumi Minamino - 6: The Japanese saw 12 minutes of action after replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain. He kept busy even though the game was dead. Reuters
    Takumi Minamino - 6: The Japanese saw 12 minutes of action after replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain. He kept busy even though the game was dead. Reuters
  • Nathaniel Phillips - 5: The centre back made a brief appearance late in stoppage time for Alexander-Arnold. There was not enough time for him to work up a sweat. Reuters
    Nathaniel Phillips - 5: The centre back made a brief appearance late in stoppage time for Alexander-Arnold. There was not enough time for him to work up a sweat. Reuters
  • ATLETICO MADRID RATINGS: Jan Oblak - 7: The Slovenian was one of the few in his team who could walk away from Anfield with his head held high. He made some good saves and could do nothing about the goals. AFP
    ATLETICO MADRID RATINGS: Jan Oblak - 7: The Slovenian was one of the few in his team who could walk away from Anfield with his head held high. He made some good saves and could do nothing about the goals. AFP
  • Kieran Trippier - 4: The Englishman struggled to get forward and was kept on the back foot by Tsimikas. His distribution was wayward, too. PA
    Kieran Trippier - 4: The Englishman struggled to get forward and was kept on the back foot by Tsimikas. His distribution was wayward, too. PA
  • Felipe - 1: The Brazilian should have done better for both goals and then was foolish enough to provoke the referee into giving him an avoidable red card. A moronic performance. AP
    Felipe - 1: The Brazilian should have done better for both goals and then was foolish enough to provoke the referee into giving him an avoidable red card. A moronic performance. AP
  • Jose Maria Gimenez - 4: The Uruguayan was insecure at the back. When he got forward, he managed to edge offside and cause Suarez’s goal to be disallowed. AFP
    Jose Maria Gimenez - 4: The Uruguayan was insecure at the back. When he got forward, he managed to edge offside and cause Suarez’s goal to be disallowed. AFP
  • Mario Hermoso - 4: The Spaniard was awful in the reverse fixture and was little better at Anfield. He was booked early on, showing that the only way he could deal with Salah was to use brute force. With this option unavailable, his tackling was tentative. AFP
    Mario Hermoso - 4: The Spaniard was awful in the reverse fixture and was little better at Anfield. He was booked early on, showing that the only way he could deal with Salah was to use brute force. With this option unavailable, his tackling was tentative. AFP
  • Koke - 4: As in Madrid, the 29-year-old was anonymous. He was replaced by Matheus Cunha with 21 minutes to go. Reuters
    Koke - 4: As in Madrid, the 29-year-old was anonymous. He was replaced by Matheus Cunha with 21 minutes to go. Reuters
  • Rodrigo De Paul - 4: The Argentinian showed glimpses of skill with the odd precise pass but he was unable to gain any control in midfield. He was often bypassed by Liverpool's quick breaks. PA
    Rodrigo De Paul - 4: The Argentinian showed glimpses of skill with the odd precise pass but he was unable to gain any control in midfield. He was often bypassed by Liverpool's quick breaks. PA
  • Angel Correa - 4: The Argentinian worked hard but to scant effect. He was always a step or two behind the Liverpool runners. He was replaced by Serrano with 15 minutes left. EPA
    Angel Correa - 4: The Argentinian worked hard but to scant effect. He was always a step or two behind the Liverpool runners. He was replaced by Serrano with 15 minutes left. EPA
  • Yannick Carrasco - 5: The Belgian provided his team’s biggest threat and he was hardly impressive. He was taken off for Vrsaljko with 21 minutes left. Reuters
    Yannick Carrasco - 5: The Belgian provided his team’s biggest threat and he was hardly impressive. He was taken off for Vrsaljko with 21 minutes left. Reuters
  • Joao Felix - 3: The Portuguese worried Liverpool in Madrid but his passing was dreadful last night. It looked as if he and Suarez were playing together for the first time. He was withdrawn for Renan Lodi just before the hour. AP
    Joao Felix - 3: The Portuguese worried Liverpool in Madrid but his passing was dreadful last night. It looked as if he and Suarez were playing together for the first time. He was withdrawn for Renan Lodi just before the hour. AP
  • Luis Suarez - 3: The former Liverpool hero was booed relentlessly and rarely had any impact on the game. He thought he had pulled a goal back but it was ruled out for outside and moments later he was replaced by Herrera. EPA
    Luis Suarez - 3: The former Liverpool hero was booed relentlessly and rarely had any impact on the game. He thought he had pulled a goal back but it was ruled out for outside and moments later he was replaced by Herrera. EPA
  • SUBS: Hector Herrera - 3: The Mexican came on for Suarez with 31 minutes left. He wasted his team’s best chance by dwelling on the ball and then shooting wide. AP
    SUBS: Hector Herrera - 3: The Mexican came on for Suarez with 31 minutes left. He wasted his team’s best chance by dwelling on the ball and then shooting wide. AP
  • Renan Lodi - 5: The left back replaced Joao Felix in 59th minute. The defence looked more solid after his arrival but by then Liverpool had largely stopped trying. AP
    Renan Lodi - 5: The left back replaced Joao Felix in 59th minute. The defence looked more solid after his arrival but by then Liverpool had largely stopped trying. AP
  • Matheus Cunha - 4: The 22-year-old joined the action in place of Koke with 21 minutes left. There was nothing he could do to change the direction of the match. AP
    Matheus Cunha - 4: The 22-year-old joined the action in place of Koke with 21 minutes left. There was nothing he could do to change the direction of the match. AP
  • Sime Vrsaljko - 4: The Croat came on for Carrasco in the 69th minute and made little impression in his time on the pitch. AFP
    Sime Vrsaljko - 4: The Croat came on for Carrasco in the 69th minute and made little impression in his time on the pitch. AFP
  • Javi Serrano - 4: The 18-year-old entered the game in the 75th minute for Correa and saw little of the ball. Getty
    Javi Serrano - 4: The 18-year-old entered the game in the 75th minute for Correa and saw little of the ball. Getty

Sport

Football

Liverpool v Atletico Madrid ratings: Salah 8, Mane 8; Suarez 3, Felipe 1

Jurgen Klopp's side through to knockout stages of Champions League after comfortable victory

Tony Evans

November 04, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Liverpool booked their place in the knockout stage of the Champions League with two matches to spare after a comfortable 2-0 win over 10-man Atletico Madrid.

This time there was no conceding of a two-goal lead as there had been in Madrid and at home to Brighton on Saturday after Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane’s first-half goals set up a record-equalling victory.

A harsh red card for Atleti defender Felipe for a challenge on Mane, who was targeted for 45 minutes before being substituted a half-time, aided the cause as Jurgen Klopp’s side made it four successive group wins for the first time.

Victory secured a 25th match unbeaten, equalling the Reds’ record as a football league club set between March and September 1982 under Bob Paisley.

More importantly it gave Klopp some much-needed breathing room in Europe as, with a seven-point cushion in group B, he can now afford to be more circumspect with his team selections.

Player ratings for the game 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: November 04, 2021, 3:27 AM
Champions LeagueLiverpoolAtletico MadridMohamed Salah