AP, Liverpool :
Anfield was rocking. Jurgen Klopp was beating his chest and punching the air. Another famous comeback was on for Liverpool in the Champions League.
One error from their backup goalkeeper saw it all come crashing down for the titleholders on Wednesday.
When Adrian received the ball at his feet seven minutes into extra time, Liverpool had just gone 2-0 ahead on the night and 2-1 up on aggregate against Atletico Madrid in the round of 16. The Reds just needed to keep their composure to see the game through.
Instead, Adrian sidefooted a poor clearance along the ground and straight to Joao Felix, who set up substitute Marcos Llorente to score the crucial away goal that put Liverpool on the back foot for the first time in the second leg.
Further goals from Llorente and Alvaro Morata – two former Real Madrid players – secured a 3-2 win for Atletico and a 4-2 win on aggregate.
“Conceding a goal is part of football and shouldn’t have a massive influence,” Klopp said of Adrian’s error. “But, in this moment, the momentum changed.”
The contrast in goalkeepers couldn’t have been starker at Anfield.
While Adrian – filling in for injured Brazil international Alisson Becker – proved to be the fall guy for Liverpool, Jan Oblak again showed why he is regarded as one of the world’s top ‘keepers by producing a series of great saves and blocks to take the game to extra time.
“(Lionel) Messi can win games for you up front,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said through a translator, referring to Barcelona’s prolific forward, “but goalkeepers can also win games for you as well. Oblak did that for us.”
When Morata sealed progress for Atletico with the team’s third goal in stoppage time of extra time, Simeone sprinted down the touchline, spread his arms out wide, and stuck out his chest in front of the celebrating visiting supporters.
His team, languishing in sixth place in La Liga, had just consigned Liverpool to a first loss in a European home game since October 2014 and completed back-to-back victories over a team that has taken the English Premier League by storm this season.
While Liverpool will have to be content with a first English league championship in 30 years – the title could be sealed as early as next week with the Reds 25 points clear – Atletico will continue, somewhat against the odds, its bid for a first Champions League title. It was a runner-up in 2014 and ’16, also under Simeone, and again he will rely on Oblak and the team’s obdurate defense to take Atletico all the way this season.
Anfield was rocking. Jurgen Klopp was beating his chest and punching the air. Another famous comeback was on for Liverpool in the Champions League.
One error from their backup goalkeeper saw it all come crashing down for the titleholders on Wednesday.
When Adrian received the ball at his feet seven minutes into extra time, Liverpool had just gone 2-0 ahead on the night and 2-1 up on aggregate against Atletico Madrid in the round of 16. The Reds just needed to keep their composure to see the game through.
Instead, Adrian sidefooted a poor clearance along the ground and straight to Joao Felix, who set up substitute Marcos Llorente to score the crucial away goal that put Liverpool on the back foot for the first time in the second leg.
Further goals from Llorente and Alvaro Morata – two former Real Madrid players – secured a 3-2 win for Atletico and a 4-2 win on aggregate.
“Conceding a goal is part of football and shouldn’t have a massive influence,” Klopp said of Adrian’s error. “But, in this moment, the momentum changed.”
The contrast in goalkeepers couldn’t have been starker at Anfield.
While Adrian – filling in for injured Brazil international Alisson Becker – proved to be the fall guy for Liverpool, Jan Oblak again showed why he is regarded as one of the world’s top ‘keepers by producing a series of great saves and blocks to take the game to extra time.
“(Lionel) Messi can win games for you up front,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said through a translator, referring to Barcelona’s prolific forward, “but goalkeepers can also win games for you as well. Oblak did that for us.”
When Morata sealed progress for Atletico with the team’s third goal in stoppage time of extra time, Simeone sprinted down the touchline, spread his arms out wide, and stuck out his chest in front of the celebrating visiting supporters.
His team, languishing in sixth place in La Liga, had just consigned Liverpool to a first loss in a European home game since October 2014 and completed back-to-back victories over a team that has taken the English Premier League by storm this season.
While Liverpool will have to be content with a first English league championship in 30 years – the title could be sealed as early as next week with the Reds 25 points clear – Atletico will continue, somewhat against the odds, its bid for a first Champions League title. It was a runner-up in 2014 and ’16, also under Simeone, and again he will rely on Oblak and the team’s obdurate defense to take Atletico all the way this season.
