Liverpool lost 2 – 3 to Atletico Madrid in agonizing fashion in their Champions League second leg at Anfield on Wednesday.
As a result, Liverpool’s dominance of the past two and a half years is over as they crash out at the round of 16.
Liverpool were the better side for most of the game, but couldn’t find the win in normal time. It was Atletico who capitalized in extra time to send the reigning European champions out.
Jurgen Klopp’s men started well, going ahead via a Georginho Wjinaldum header in the 43rd minute. Klopp lamented the fact that they didn’t find a second goal in normal time instead of extra time, but Roberto Firmino’s 94th minute goal was so nearly that moment for them.
Read: Arsenal Exposed to Coronavirus – What Does This Mean For The Premier League?
When Firmino tapped the ball in, It looked to all observers as if that was it. The Reds might have struggled, but with Firmino scoring his first Anfield goal of the season, they found a way through in the end. Another glorious European night at Anfield.
The problem is, the players themselves seemed to believe that narrative as well. Liverpool’s aura in Europe dictates that, but the reality was that they still had 25 minutes of extra time left to play, during which Atletico Madrid killed them.
Three of Atletico’s six shots on target came in extra time, and it was two unerring finishes from Marcos Llorente that sealed Liverpool’s fate. The first, just three minutes after Firmono’s goal, sucked the life out of the Anfield faithful as their team then needed to find another goal from somewhere.
Want to bet on the Champions League? See our reviews section for the most attractive betting markets!
Klopp’s men huffed and puffed, but it was Atletico who found the goals with Llorente’s second and a last minute Morata goal, which meant that Atletico not only progressed, but won both games against Liverpool outright.
With Liverpool out, Manchester City are the 9/4 favourites to win the Champions League, with Bayern Munich and PSG just behind them.
