Liverpool’s maintain on the Champions League was wrestled from them with the aid of Atletico Madrid after a dramatic last-16 2nd leg went into extra time – and a finely balanced game grew to become on a catastrophic blunder by goalkeeper Adrian.
Jurgen Klopp’s side – looking for to win the trophy for a seventh time – thought they had overturned Atletico’s 1-0 benefit from the first leg when Roberto Firmino’s first goal at Anfield this season at the start of the added 30 minutes gave them the lead in the tie.
Georginio Wijnaldum’s first-half header was full reward for Liverpool laying siege to the Atletico goal for a good deal of the first ninety minutes.
And yet, as the Kop sensed every other memorable Champions League victory, Adrian – deputising for the injured Alisson – paid the price for a dreadful clearance as substitute Marcos Llorente pounced with a low end to secure Atletico’s essential away goal.
Llorente struck once more with any other composed finish in the 105th minute and with the spirit draining out of Liverpool and their supporters, former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata including insult to harm with a third in the death seconds to send Atletico thru to the final eight.
The incredible Jan Oblak formed a bold barrier for Atletico Madrid, his yellow shirt a significant presence in his penalty region as he made eleven saves and claimed countless crosses.
In contrast, Liverpool’s mammoth effort was fatally undermined by the hapless Adrian, who additionally made an error that contributed to their FA Cup fifth-round defeat by Chelsea.
The Reds had subsequently established a measure of manage through Firmino’s goal, however as soon as Adrian had hacked out a hopeless clearance and Llorente’s shot beyond him into the net at the Kop end, Atletico had been ruthless.
Klopp seemed and sounded suitably downcast closing week when he announced his world-class Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson had suffered a hip injury, understanding he ought to make the difference to a Champions League tie that was usually going to be determined on the finest of margins.
And so it proved, Liverpool’s morale and hostilities spirit disappearing visibly after Adrian’s mistake.
Liverpool will nonetheless complete the formalities of their first Premier League title however they pride themselves on their status as European champions and this was a painful night.
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