Good evening, I’m Luke Gallivan-Young and I will be joining you tonight for a monumental clash at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium, as Spanish champions Atletico Madrid welcome Jurgen Klopp’s men in what is sure to be a tight affair with both teams looking to extend their unbeaten starts in the Champions League this year.
Here’s how the teams line up this evening:
Madrid set up with the Simone special with a 5 at the back formation, operating with 3 centre backs and two wing backs, with former Liverpool man Luis Suarez on the bench tonight.
The one notable absence from the Liverpool team is the lack of Fabinho in midfield, the Brazilian is back in the squad with a place on the bench after missing Liverpool’s 5-0 dismantling of Watford at the weekend after returning from international duty late, fellow Brazilian Alisson is reinstated in between the sticks tonight.
A reminder that both managers will have the ability to make five substitions tonight.
Both teams walking out to the notorious Champions League theme song, accompanied by huge roars from both sets of fans.
KICK OFF: We are in motion in the Spanish capital.
1″: Liverpool kick us off in their bright yellow strip, shooting from left to right in this first half.
3″ Atletico starting this game as many expected them to, with 11 men behind the ball as Liverpool look to find a way through the red and white wall.
8″ GOAL! Atletico Madrid 0 – Liverpool 1. Mohamed Salah skipping inside onto his left foot, beating 3 defenders before rifling into the bottom corner.
8″ Salah’s shot takes a defelection on the way through, off of James Milner who has now been awarded the goal.
12″ Liverpool in control in the early stages of the first half, keeping hold of the ball, as Atletico look to reassess their game plan after going behind so early on.
13″ GOAL Atletico Madrid 0 – Liverpool 2. Naby Keita thunders the ball past Jan Oblak with a strike as sweet as you’ll see all season. A poor clearance allowed Keita the oppurtunity to smash it home from just outside the 18 yard box.
15″ Simone on the touchline ordering his players to calm down as they now have a mountain to climb if they want to get anything from this game.
18″ A positive passge of play from Atletico, a cross into the box from the left hand side needs to be cleared by VIrgil Van Dijk, their first venture into the Liverpool 18 yard box all evening.
19″ Superb defending from Alexander-Arnold as he gets his foot high enough to clear the ball out for a corner after a great cross from Antoine Griezman.
20″ GOAL Atletico Madrid 1 – Liverpool 2. Atletico are right back in this, Griezmann tucks home from inches out after clever work from Thomas Lemar to beat Keita from the short corner, Griezmann in the right place at the right time as he gets a touch onto Koke’s shot from the edge of the box. A real poachers goal.
24″ Madrid are playing with an improved confidence after getting their goal, the fans are behind them and Liverpool are in for the game they would have expected when they walked out onto the field this evening.
26″ Roberto Firmino volleys over the bar from 20 yards out, as he looks to mark his 300th Liverpool appearance with a goal.
27″ Griezmann gets in behind the Liverpool defence forcing Alisson to make a superb save to deny the Frenchman the equaliser. Greizmann got goalside of Virgil Van Dijk with ease, a real let off for Liverpool.
30″ A freekick for Liverpool on the edge of the box, near the right corner flag, is easily cleared by Atletico after Milner is brought down clumsily.
33″ GOAL Atletico Madrid 2 – Liverpool 2. Griezmann with his second goal of the night, a fantastic finish into the bottom right corner after Joao Felix skins Keita in midfield. This game is turning into a potential Champions League classic.
39″ Joao Felix forces Alisson into another fine save, a simple switch of play on the counter attack from Atletico is controlled brilliantly as Felix looks to fire in across Alisson’s goal, however the Liverpool ‘Keeper is equal to it and manages to claim the ball.
41″ Liverpool extremly lucky as Alisson comes out of his penalty area to clear the ball, his clearance is hit into Joel Matip which rebounds back to Alisson, it could’ve gone anywhere with the goalkeeper so far from home with Felix lukring dangerously nearby.
HALF TIME Atletico Madrid 2 – Liverpool 2. The teams go into the break level, after Liverpool’s fast start to the game, Atletico have grown into the game with Griezmann grabbing 2 goals to get his side back into the game. Atletico will be the happier side going into the half time break with Liverpool needing to change something as they look defensively all over the place.
45″ The second half is underway. A change for each side at half time. Fabinho on for Keita and Jose Gimenez on for Geoffrey Kondogbia.
46″ The introduction of Fabinho is immeidate, he breaks up a dangerous looking counter attack on the halfway line, that is exactly what Klopp has brought him onto the pitch for.
48″ A wicked ball in from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner finds the head of Sadio Mane, who’s header is beaten away by Oblak.
49″ Straight up the other end, a neat one-two between Koke and Carassco allows Carrasco to get the shot away which, not for the first time tonight, is saved brilliantly by Alisson. A very open game this evening which is keeping everybody on their toes, including me, as I scramble to keep up with the twists and turns in this Champions League heavyweight clash,
51″ RED CARD. Greizmann has been sent off after a high foot on Firmino. A dubious decision to say at least from the first glance. Upon consulting replays, Greizmann’s foot is in a dangerous position as his boot collides with Firmino’s head, the Brazillian is down recieving treatment. No malice in the challenge, but it’s considered serious foul play.
55″ A corner to Liverpool taken by Alexander-Arnold. Headed away by Gimenez, he gets a second oppurtunity to cross; it’s met by Van Dijk however his effort is tame and straight at the Slovenian in goal.
57″ Andy Robertson with a half-volley from just inside the box, a good effort from the left back however it sails over the top of the Atletico Madrid goal.
58″ James Milner is cautioned after catching Kieran Trippier with an elbow, Atletico Madrid are appealing for a red card. Revenge seems to be on the cards for the Atletico fans and Simone alike.
62″ A double change from Liverpool who are looking to use their extra man to their advantage with two positive subs.
65″ Liverpool work the ball nicely around the Atleti box, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain manages to get a strong shot away which is hit directly at Oblak.
68″ Robertson nicks the ball off De Paul in midfield, he crosses early, however it is cleared out of play for a Liverpool corner.
71″ Liverpool with a good spell of posession in the Atletico Madrid half, they can’t find a way through as Yannick Carassco charges after the clearance up top, he looks to set up someone in red but a last ditch tackle from Oxlade Chamberlain thwarts any potential danger.
74″ Liverpool win another corner after more good build up play, however they are still yet to make any clear cut chances in this second half.
75′ PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL. Diogo Jota is brought down needlessly by Hermoso inside the box, a golden chance for Liverpool to retake their lead after a long ball into the box by Alexander-Arnold
76″ GOAL Atletico Madrid 2 – Liverpool 3. Salah slots past Oblak with such composure, nestled into the bottom corner, the keeper sent the wrong way. Salah’s second penalty scored in the Metropolitano, the first being in the Champions League final in 2019.
79″ A quadruple change for Atletico. Hermoso looking sheepish as he walks past his manager after giving away that pentalty.
80″ PENALTY TO ATLETICO MADRID. Jota brings down Gimenez in the box. An absolute defensive disasterclass from both sides tonight, a clumsy challenge.
82″ The referee has been advised to check the pitchside monitor by the VAR referee.
83″ After deliberation, NO PENALTY has been given. The contact Jota made was deemed not enough to warrant a foul.
84″ Alexander-Arnold is replaced by Joe Gomez.
87″ Liverpool looking to see the game out now, keeping the ball well and not comitting as many men forward. A small mistake by Van Dijk is luckily rectified by the Dutchman, Atletico still very much in this game though.
90″ A minimum of six minutes of injury time, after multiple stoppages in this second half.
90+1 Salah is replaced by Neco Williams, Liverpool looking to see this game out. Another fine performance from Liverpool’s Egyptian king.
90+3 A great chance for Atletico as Correa blazes it well over the goal as he hits it on the stretch. The Madrid players sense that could be the chance that they needed to take, with three players dropping to thier knees.
FULL TIME: ATLETICO MADRID 2 – LIVERPOOL 3. A brilliant game for the neutral, the game had everything. 5 goals, 1 penalty, 1 penalty given and then revoked. A blockbuster in Madrid, Liverpool contine their winning start in Group B and look set to qualify and advance into the round of 16. I feel like I’ve just completed 90 minutes of football after this one, the game had everything!
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