Player ratings: Liverpool 2-3 Atletico
Well that was a tough one to take. A brilliant performance marred by some goalkeeping buffoonery and the Atletico players should have been wearing masks last night, not because of Coronavirus but because of the shameful mugging they were the perpetrators of. Not that I’m bitter… Sigh. Let’s see how the lads got on.
Adrian (2) – A point for turning up each half is about as generous as I can get. There was an early warning when he fumbled an attempt from Felix but managed to block the subsequent rebound. He looked a bag of nerves and this was not the type of game that is good for a nervous goalkeeper as he had too much time to think. Spent huge periods of the match as a spectator but when we needed him, he crumbled. God only knows what he was doing with that clearance, literally anywhere but where he put it and he had a simple ball and acres of space to his left. I might be being a touch harsh here but I thought the other two he conceded were saveable as well but he didn’t seem to get near them. Confidence will be shot going into the derby too. Great.
TAA (7.5) – No assist for Trent this time around but his crosses caused Atletico problems all night and he forced Oblak into a really good save. I must admit, I enjoyed it when he kicked Felix but he seemed to lose his head a bit towards the end of the game and started giving away silly free kicks. That tie however, as painful as it’s been, will have been another big lesson in Trent’s footballing education.
Gomez (7) – Steady enough for most of the game and used his recovery pace well. Backed off again however in the build up to Atletico’s first, seemingly inviting the lad to shoot, much as he did with Barkley last week. With Alisson in goal that might be an option but with Adrian, alternatives need to be explored. Like Trent however, he’ll have learned a lot last night.
Van Dijk (7) – I think it was Atletico’s second that he just seemed to stand off and allow the Atletico player a free run at the remaining defenders. You trust his judgement right up until the ball hits the net and then you think “Really Virgil?” Played well for the majority however and made a nuisance of himself in the Atletico box at set pieces.
Robertson (7) – Involved in a good battle all night with Trippier, who I thought had a really good game. Wasn’t able to attack as much as he’d have liked first half but he could’ve had a hat trick in the second half and simply had to score that header that hit the bar. More work on your finishing after training lad.
Henderson (7.5) – We looked much better with Hendo back in the team. His drive and energy immediately noticeable and his passing range really has improved over the last 12 months or so. Looked exhausted at the end but he has been out for the last few weeks.
Ox (8.5) – By far his best display since he came back from injury and desperately unlucky to miss out on McMOTM but showed what he’s all about with driving runs, bursting past players like they were standing still and whipping crosses into the box, as well as shooting whenever the opportunity presented itself. Lovely assist for the first goal and was a real menace to Atletico all night. Let’s hope he can stay fit and we can start to see this version of Ox more often.
Wijnaldum (9) – Loves a big goal in the Champions League doesn’t he? Forced Oblak into a good save with one header but there was no saving the second as Gini powered home what was at that time the leveller. Also claimed the assist for the second with a fine cross for Bobby. Ox was brilliant but it’s difficult to look past a goal and an assist when choosing man of the match, in a game you only scored two goals in so to that end, Gini is this week’s McMOTM.
Salah (7.5) – Although pretty much nothing he tried came off in the end, he was lively and looked dangerous all night. Used his pace and power superbly on a number of occasions and caused Atletico no end of problems. Best display from Mo for a while.
Firmino (7) – Finally! After almost a year of waiting, Bobby found the net at Anfield at the second time of asking but in reality, he should have had more. Missed a couple of sitters from close range and looked a little short in confidence in the opening stages. Grew into the game but nights like last night make you wonder if we’d be better with Bobby playing behind a more natural finisher.
Mane (7.5) Pace, power and pressing was what Mane was all about last night and the lads up against him will certainly know they’d been in a game. Unfortunately hadn’t brought his shooting boots as he scuffed one really good opportunity straight at Oblak and then blazed over with not one but two overhead kicks. Much like Salah, deserved a goal but finishing ultimately let him down.
Subs:
Milner (7) – I thought Milner was really good when he came on. Thundered into an early challenge and got up to speed with the pace and rhythm of the game almost immediately. His presence has been missed, especially in Hendo’s absence.
Fabinho (6) – Looked a bit better than in his last few games (thank god) but was unable to thwart the aforementioned Atletico mugging.
Origi (N/A) – Ran around, scuffed a shot wide.
Minamino (N/A) – Late sub.
Klopp-watch (8) – Quite a difficult one to score Klopp on. Ultimately, you shell out £65 million on a goalkeeper for exactly nights like last night and had Alisson been in goal, I’m sure we’d have won that game and probably the tie as well. Some question marks over his subs although I think both Ox and Hendo were shattered and fresh legs needed. Oh and for god sake, when we’re playing Origi, just bloody play him through the middle. He’s not a left winger in a million years.
Summary:
Pretty gut wrenching stuff in the end then. I’ve heard all sorts of praise for Simeone today, one caller on the radio even said Klopp was ‘schooled’ by him. I mean really?
We battered Atletico from start to finish, created so many chances that if we’d won 8-0 they couldn’t have had any complaints and neither manager can legislate for what Adrian did so at 2-0 us in extra time, his supposed masterplan wasn’t working as they were heading out the tournament. One shambolic piece of goalkeeping later and the tie is on its head but that had nothing to do with Simeone’s plan, he has the same plan as Steve Bruce and Sam Allardyce, just better players to implement it. The praise for him is ludicrous, they forked out what £115 million for Felix? Why so he could be part of a parked bus?
Anyway, it’s a bitter pill to swallow for the lads, having been excellent and had done the hard graft needed to go through. Adrian has been a steady deputy when required this season so I don’t want to rip into him too much but it was Karius all over again. A great team let down by a dodgy keeper.
Everton next then, which should focus the minds and hopefully they’ll feel the full force of our wrath as our lads must be spitting blood today after that result last night. No better opponent to vent our frustrations on than the noisy neighbours. Or at least hopefully it’ll be noisy and not being played behind closed doors.
That’s it for this week then troops. I just really hope that our greatest season in three decades doesn’t just end with a whimper, games behind closed doors, no open top bus parade… it really would be tragic.
Anyway, on that happy note, walk on and keep washing those hands. YNWA
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