Liverpool and Atletico Madrid opened their Champions League campaigns tonight at Anfield.Liverpool edged the game 2-1 after Marcos Llorente put the away side ahead with a cool finish after seventeen minutes. Liverpool equalised on thirty-nine minutes through Dominik Szoboszlai’s right footed shot and Midfielder Alexis MacAllister won the game for the Anfield outfit with a left footed blast from outside the box.
First Half:
Atletico Madrid kicked off, kicking towards the Kop end, they gave the ball away straight away. Szoboszlai ran through the middle of the pitch and passed through to Isak, who dragged his shot wide. The opening stages were very open. Alvarez had a shot in the first five minutes straight at Alisson whilst Liverpool tried to press the opposition. Alexis Mac Allister was very good at winning back possession and winning free kicks for the Reds.
Atletico started with a back three and on thirteen minutes Baena had a shot from just outside the box that flew over the Kop bar, then just after Barcola picked up on a ball over the top of the right hand side, brought it down and forced Oblak into a good save. On seventeen minutes, Atletico beat the press, Alvarez slips a ball into Llorente, who lifted the ball over Alisson and into the net. That was his fifth goal at Anfield in the Champions League. Liverpool were far too open in midfield, Kerkez lost his man and they were punished for it.
On twenty-seven minutes, Liverpool was far too open again as Alvarez had a shot that looks like it's going in, but it's superbly saved by Alisson to his right hand side. The Brazilian keeper will be vital to Liverpool's plans on winning trophies this season. Kerkez wins the ball back brilliantly on forty minutes, slips Barcola through whose shot is saved. Florian Wirtz kept the ball alive and Araüjo flicked the ball through to Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored with a calm finish into the bottom right hand corner. Forty-two minutes and great work from Barrios down the right, finds Baena,who should have scored, but drags his shot wide of the post. The referee needed control of the game. He had a very poor first half with some very questionable decisions given for both teams.
Second Half:
Liverpool were excellent in the second half, pressing together and playing like a side that believed it could win the match. A lovely ball from Florian Wirtz on forty-nine minutes, who played in Bradley Barcola through on goal, but put his shot wide. Then straight after that, unbelievable work from Rio Ngumoha down the left, who twisted his man inside out, and the ball eventually broke out to Alexis Mac Allister from outside the box who hit a left footed drive past Jan Oblak into the goal. The Kop roared and the players celebrated in front of their faithful. Atletico looked so scared of Rio Ngumoha, who seemed to play with freedom in the second half. Taking fewer touches and beating men for fun.
It then became a game where not a lot happened, which sometimes is great for a winning side. Araüjo headed over the bar from a corner, Isak had a shot booked quite brilliantly by Le Normand and Münoz had a shot saved by Oblak, after the Spanish forward twisted his defender the other way. Atletico probed and probed and couldn't really get going in the second half, apart from Alvarez hitting a shot straight at Alisson after great approach play from the Spanish side. Liverpool managed to hang on and grab that first game win. An ideal start to a Champions League game against one of the Pot One teams and one of the favourites for the competition.
Up next for Liverpool is another home game against Fulham on Saturday afternoon, whilst Atletico Madrid travels to San Sebastian to play Real Sociedad on Sunday evening.
Full Time: Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid
