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Diego Simeone singles out Liverpool star who was ‘great’ vs Atletico
In an interview with Marca, Diego Simeone praised Alisson Becker after Liverpool defeated his Atletico Madrid side 3-2 in the Champions League last night.
The game at the Wanda Metropolitano had it all: five goals, numerous chances, dreadful defending, a controversial red card, a penalty given, a penalty taken away, a wondrous volley, records broken, offside confusion, and, to top it all off, a silly handshake row.
Mo Salah’s 78th-minute spot-kick winner not only made him Liverpool’s all-time Champions League goalscorer with 31, but it also ensured Jurgen Klopp’s rampant Reds have one foot and four toes in the knockout stages.
The men from Merseyside, on the other hand, were far from their unstoppable selves in the Spanish capital.
After racing into a 2-0 lead in the blink of an eye, they gifted Atletico a way back into the game, Naby Keita’s thumping volley adding to a deflected Salah opener.
And, if it hadn’t been for a string of saves from the outstanding, octo-limbed Alisson, Atletico could have turned a two-goal deficit into a 3-2 lead before Salah delivered the game-winning blow.
“A tough match, an opponent who has a great style, who usually wins matches by many goals,” reflected Simeone, who must have covered as much ground as some of his players during an evening pacing the touchline, limbs aloft and baying to the crowd
“We did not start the match as we wanted and, after the second (Liverpool) goal, we started playing the match we were looking for. We had chances to put ourselves ahead (but) the goalkeeper made great saves.”
Atletico’s chances were hampered by Antoine Griezmann’s controversial red card shortly after halftime.
In the process, the France star made Champions League history by becoming the first player to be sent off after scoring twice.
We’re pretty sure that kicking a man in the face, whether accidentally or not, qualifies as’reckless’ play.
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Diego Simeone singles out Liverpool star who was ‘great’ vs Atletico
