Liverpool meekly surrender Champions League crown at hands of Atletico Madrid

Liverpool’s reign as European champions came to a premature end at the hands of Atletico Madrid as a 3-2 home defeat saw them exit 4-2 on aggregate after extra time.
Mastermind: Diego Simeone races onto the pitch in jubilation after Marcos Llorente’s second goal drew Atletico Madrid level on the night and gave them a lead they would not relinquish as the Spanish side eliminated reigning champions Liverpool from the Champions League. (Picture: Peter Byrne/PA)Mastermind: Diego Simeone races onto the pitch in jubilation after Marcos Llorente’s second goal drew Atletico Madrid level on the night and gave them a lead they would not relinquish as the Spanish side eliminated reigning champions Liverpool from the Champions League. (Picture: Peter Byrne/PA)
Mastermind: Diego Simeone races onto the pitch in jubilation after Marcos Llorente’s second goal drew Atletico Madrid level on the night and gave them a lead they would not relinquish as the Spanish side eliminated reigning champions Liverpool from the Champions League. (Picture: Peter Byrne/PA)

In a tale of two goalkeepers, the LaLiga side’s Jan Oblak showed why he is one of the world’s best by single-handedly holding the visitors at bay in the second half as shots rained down on his goal with the tie level on aggregate at 1-1 after Georginio Wijnaldum’s opener.

By contrast Adrian, the goalkeeper who did not have a club in the summer and who was standing in for the injured Alisson Becker, had a shocking nine minutes in extra time with his error leading to Marcos Llorente’s goal after Roberto Firmino’s first at Anfield since April had put Liverpool ahead in the tie for the first time.

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The Spaniard then seemed slow to react to Alonso’s long-range effort, which left Jurgen Klopp’s side needing two goals in the final 15 minutes.

Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a second leg, round of 16, Champions League.. (AP Photo/Jon Super)Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a second leg, round of 16, Champions League.. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a second leg, round of 16, Champions League.. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

For once Anfield could not deliver one of its famous comebacks as Klopp lost his first two-legged tie as Liverpool manager at the 11th attempt, with Alvaro Morata adding a third in the 120th minute.

In truth it should never have got that far and would not have done had it not been for Oblak.

After Diego Costa fired into the side-netting after just 14 seconds the direction of travel was mainly towards the visitors’ goal.

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It was no surprise when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, produced a brilliant cross on the run from the byline for Wijnaldum to head down and away from Oblak a minute before the break.

Four minutes into extra time Firmino enjoyed a huge stroke of luck as his header hit a post but rebounded straight back for him to side-foot home.

However, a duffed kick from Adrian led to Llorente’s first and the substitute found the same corner from a counter-attack just before the interval Morata sealed it as Liverpool went out with a whimper.