Liverpool v Atletico Madrid: Live matchday blog
Liverpool's defence of the Champions League was ended by Atletico Madrid at Anfield as the visitors came from two goals down in extra-time to win 3-2 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate in the last-16 tie.
Jürgen Klopp's verdict
Jürgen Klopp offered his thoughts on Liverpool's Champions League elimination during his post-match press conference at Anfield.
You can read what the manager had to say to reporters in full by clicking here.
Full Time
Liverpool 2-3 Atletico (2-4 agg)
A remarkable night at Anfield sees Liverpool's defence of the Champions League ended in cruel fashion.
The Reds had overturned their one-goal deficit from the first leg, with goals from Wijnaldum and Firmino, early in extra-time, giving the holders command of the tie.
But Atletico struck back three times, Llorente's double followed by a Morata goal to give the visitors victory on the night and aggregate.
Goal
Goal for Atletico
The visitors break clear and Morata slides a finish past Adrian.
Liverpool 2-3 Atletico (2-4 agg)
Two minutes more to play at Anfield.
Substitution
Final throw of the dice by Klopp.
Minamino replaces Firmino.
Origi tries to force the issue as time ticks away from Liverpool here, cutting inside from the left channel and drilling low towards the near post - wide
Kick-Off
And the final 15 minutes is under way, with the Reds needing two goals.
Substitution
Atletico send on Gimenez for Correa.
Substitution
Double change for Liverpool.
Fabinho replaces Henderson.
Origi comes on for Wijnaldum.
Half Time
And that's half-time in extra-time.
Goal
Goal for Atletico
The visitors strike again at Anfield and Liverpool have a huge challenge now.
An Atletico breakaway sees Llorente collect the ball just outside the area before setting himself and dipping a shot into the bottom right corner.
The Reds will need two goals to overturn the aggregate scoreline.
Liverpool 2-2 Atletico (2-3 agg)
Atletico change.
Morata on for Felix.
Goal
Goal for Atletico
A big setback for the Reds.
Felix scoops up Adrian's short clearance out and releases Llorente to attack in behind. The substitute takes a touch and curls a finish into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Liverpool 2-1 Atletico (2-2 agg)
Goal
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!
Bobby Firmino puts Liverpool ahead on the night - and in the tie.
Wijnaldum's driving run down the right is followed by a superb cross into the middle, where Firmino nods a header against the left post. The ball comes back out to the No.9 and he finds the empty net.
Get in!!
Liverpool 2-0 Atletico (2-1 agg)
Two minutes in and the Reds force another save from Oblak.
Wijnaldum and Alexander-Arnold trade passes at the edge of the Atletico area and the former drives in a shot that the visiting goalkeeper thwarts again.
Kick-Off
And extra-time is under way. Come on, Reds!
Substitution
Atletico introduce Vrsaljko for Trippier.
Extra Time
Liverpool 1-0 Atletico
And so extra-time is required at Anfield after 90 minutes of relentless football from the Reds.
Saul had the ball in the net for Atletico with practically the last kick of normal time but it was ruled out for offside. So this tie goes into an additional half-hour.
Two minutes of added time to be played.
Yet another effort.
This time it's all Salah as he dribbles around a succession of challenges and attempts to drive a shot into the far corner. He gets too much on it, though, and it's over the upright.
Another sighter.
Milner shows excellent technique to wriggle free at the edge of the area and dink in a cross. Wijnaldum's header moves the ball to Mane, whose overheard kick sails over.
Still Liverpool come and their latest attack sees Salah thread a pass into Wijnaldum's penalty-box run. His cross-shot is hit hard but Oblak pushes it away.
Substitution
Change for Liverpool.
Milner replaces the outstanding Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Chance
From a short corner routine, Alexander-Arnold pulls a cross back to Robertson at the edge of the area and the left-back's drive flies too high of his aim at the top left corner.
Chance for a Liverpool counter-attack and Mane almost completes a perfect curling pass over the top to Salah, only for Atletico to clear at the last through Felipe.
There's 15 minutes of normal time remaining at Anfield and the tie remains absolutely on a knife-edge, with the aggregate scored locked at 1-1. Extra-time will be required if there's no change in the next quarter-hour...
It's all Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold takes a direct route by thumping an angled shot at goal - Oblak palms it away and Robertson's rebound is deflected wide too.
Off the bar!
So close to the second goal for Liverpool.
Firmino feeds Salah inside the Atletico area and his neat footwork creates room for a clip across goal that is deflected up in the air - Robertson gets his head to the ball first but it drifts onto the crossbar and away.
Relief at the other end, meanwhile.
Felix bears down on goal and tries his luck with a bobbling hit that Adrian fumbles out. The Liverpool goalkeeper recovers excellently to block Correa on the rebound
Chance
Alexander-Arnold curls in another sublime cross, this from a free-kick to the right, that finds Firmino at the back post. His touch sends the ball goalwards but Oblak denies him.
Substitution
Atletico change.
Llorente replaces Costa.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been lively all night and, when found in the centre again, the midfielder wastes little time in drilling in a low strike from distance that Oblak has to get down and tip around the post.
Match shot
The big moment so far.
Half a chance for Salah as the Egyptian moves onto Wijnaldum's raking pass over the top and comes into a shooting area from the right channel. It's a difficult angle and he can't quite wrap his foot around the finish enough to really trouble Oblak.
Kick-Off
And the second half has started at Anfield.
It's all square in this Champions League last-16 tie...
The opening half at Anfield in statistics...
Half Time
Liverpool 1-0 Atletico (1-1 agg)
There's the half-time whistle and it's blown with the Reds a goal ahead on the night and level on the aggregate scoreline.
Wijnaldum's header made the breakthrough moments before the interval after 45 minutes of heavy Liverpool pressure.
Goal
GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!
As we were saying...
Breakthrough for the Reds and this tie is level on aggregate!
Oxlade-Chamberlain gets into a crossing position deep on the right-hand side and lifts in a delivery that finds Wijnaldum in a pocket of space. The midfielder connects with a downward header that bounces into the net. Get in!
Liverpool 1-0 Atletico (1-1 agg)
Oxlade-Chamberlain now slices a 25-yarder harmlessly wide of the right post. It's still pretty much all going in one direction but Liverpool have yet to break down this Atletico side.
And another chance...
Alexander-Arnold swerves a delicious cross toward the near post from the right and Firmino is inches away from nudging it into the net. Oblak gets enough on the ball to send it away from goal.
Chance!
Salah capitalises on a Lodi slip near the touchline and tees up an unmarked Mane in the middle, just outside the area. The No.10 tries a first time sweeping shot but doesn't quite make the connection he'd wish and it's into Oblak's grasp.
Half an hour played at Anfield and it remains goalless but it's Liverpool mounting the vast majority of pressure, though without any reward so far.
The Reds launch a claim for a penalty as Mane makes contact with a corner in from the left and the ball ricochets against Felipe. The referee says no and there's no change after a VAR review.
A scare at the other end, though, as Felipe reaches a near-post corner from the left flank first but nods his header off target from close range.
More promising stuff by Liverpool, this time Oxlade-Chamberlain striding into a shooting position in the right channel and snapping away a low attempt that Oblak repels away from danger.
And now Henderson drags a shot wide as the Reds press consistently in the search for an opening goal.
Chance for Salah as Mane works hard to retrieve possession and guides a pass out to his fellow forward on the right edge of the penalty box. Salah cuts inside and aims for the opposite top corner but his effort is too high.
Match shot
The Reds.
Wijnaldum has been very advanced in these opening stages and Alexander-Arnold picks out the Dutchman with an early cross that he gets a decent flicked header on, but into the hands of Oblak.
An immediate sight of goal for Costa.
His run in behind marries with a through ball from Felix and the striker holds off Gomez and sends in a low shot that's wide of Adrian's post.
Kick-Off
Off we go
Atletico get proceedings under way at Anfield. Come on, Liverpool!
Almost time
The teams are on the pitch inside a raucous Anfield and we're just moments away from kick-off in this Champions League last-16 second leg. Follow all of the action right here.
Here's how Opta expect the sides to line up...
Ton up for Joe
Joe Gomez makes his 100th Liverpool appearance tonight.
Atletico's starting XI: Oblak, Trippier, Savic, Felipe, Lodi, Partey, Saul, Koke, Correa, Felix, Costa.
TEAM NEWS
Jordan Henderson starts for Liverpool after recovering from the hamstring injury sustained in the first leg.
He’s one of two changes as Andy Robertson also returns, with James Milner and Fabinho dropping to the bench.
Liverpool: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Subs: Lonergan, Fabinho, Milner, Minamino, Lallana, Origi, Matip.
On this day...
Back on March 11, 2008, Fernando Torres scored a stunning winner to earn the Reds a 1-0 victory over Inter at San Siro in the Champions League.
Anfield awaits...
Klopp's programme notes
He writes: "Anyone who comes to Anfield tonight thinking of previous occasions and feelings here, I’m cool with that. But it has to be channelled into a mindset of ‘I want to feel it again’. So, remember all the things that brought you to that feeling - player and supporter.
“The key word tonight will be ‘intensity’. Madrid will have it - we know this. So we must have higher intensity, in the positive sense, in all that we do.
“Our visitors’ supporters will be passionate and loud. Cool! We can be better if we are prepared to work for it. Our visitors’ players will be focused, prepared and hungry. Cool! We can be better if we are prepared to work for it.
“I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to leave any sense of ‘what if’ or even ‘what might be’ outside the stadium. In the stands and on the pitch we need to be in every moment. This is how you create special moments."
Atleti's Thomas Partey to fulfil lifelong ambition
“Liverpool are doing really well this year and tomorrow’s match will be very tough for both sides. We’ll need to be 100 per cent focused from the first minute. It’s a dream of mine to play against Liverpool at Anfield."
Stat attack
- At Anfield, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 25 European fixtures, winning 18 and drawing seven of those. Their last defeat was against Real Madrid back in October 2014.
- The Reds have played a second leg at home aiming to overcome a first-leg deficit of any score 30 times and have gone on to win the tie on 14 occasions.
- Mohamed Salah is the club’s third-highest goalscorer in Europe (level with Ian Rush on 20). Only Steven Gerrard (41) and Michael Owen (22) have more.
- Joe Gomez’s next appearance will be his 100th for Liverpool in all competitions. ​​​
​
Tonight's match officials come from the Netherlands...
Referee: Danny Makkelie
Assistants: Mario Diks, Hessel Steegstra
Fourth official: Allard Lindhout
VAR: Jochem Kamphuis
Assistant VAR: Kevin Blom
Last time out
The Reds returned to winning ways on the weekend by taking down Bournemouth at Anfield. Look back on the 2-1 victory in the video below...
View from Madrid
We caught up with Spanish football expert Dermot Corrigan for the lowdown on tonight's opposition.
He analyses: "After missing the first leg through injury, Portuguese starlet Joao Felix has returned looking very sharp and hungry, and looks Atletico's best chance of either creating or scoring what would be a vital away goal.
"And given how Liverpool are likely to get at least one shot on target this time, goalkeeper Jan Oblak will definitely need to be at his best."
Click here to read our chat with him in full.
Diego Simeone's preview
"We will be up against a great side who have shown what they are all about since Jürgen Klopp took over.
"I have never been to Anfield, as a coach or as a player. I have never had the chance to play in such a magnificent stadium, home to a side with so much history.
"We will need to suffer at certain moments, but we will get our chances, too. You have seen over the past eight years what we can do, and we will need to show we are capable of doing that tomorrow."
Tonight's cover of the matchday programme...
Play LFC Lotto
Supporters can be in with the chance to win some fantastic prizes when the Reds welcome Atletico Madrid to Anfield tonight.
LFC Lotto gives fans the chance to win huge cash prizes, amazing signed Reds memorabilia and unique LFC experiences every Anfield matchday – with every draw this season featuring a shirt signed by the first team and a cap signed by Jürgen Klopp.
Subscribers will also be entered into a draw to meet the first-team squad at Melwood!
Entries are just £2 in the stadium, or you can play online here.
Fifty per cent of net proceeds from this season’s LFC Lotto will specifically help fund LFC Foundation’s Military Veterans programme and Men’s Health projects.
Players must be aged 16+
UK only
https://www.begambleaware.org
Robbo's quotes give us another excuse to watch this again, don't they?
'We need everyone to be in the mood of the Barcelona game'
That's birthday boy Andy Robertson's rallying call as he urges Liverpool fans and players to come together once again to produce another incredible European night at L4.
The left-back, who turns 26 today, told Liverpoolfc.com: "We always look to start the game fast, whatever game, but if we can start on the front foot, then we know the fans react to that, Anfield reacts to that and it creates a fantastic atmosphere.
"That's what we need, we need everyone to be in the mood of the Barcelona game effectively because the fans were incredible that night.
"We need them again, we need our same attitude again and if we do that then we believe we're good enough to win the game."
Last night's Champions League action...
Serie A side Atalanta secured qualification for the last eight of the competition with a 4-3 victory at Valencia, winning the tie 8-4 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur's elimination was confirmed following a 3-0 defeat away at RB Leipzig.
Missing Men
Liverpool last hosted Atletico almost a decade ago for the second leg of a Europa League semi-final. Can you remember our starting XI from that night?
Click the graphic below to reveal the answers.
Team news
The Reds are set to welcome Jordan Henderson back into the matchday squad tonight after the captain recovered from a hamstring injury.
Andy Robertson, too, is also available again as he sat out the weekend's win over Bournemouth as a precaution.
However, this fixture and next week's encounter with Everton are likely to come too soon for Alisson Becker, who remains sidelined with a hip issue.
Atletico, meanwhile, will make a check on the fitness of Alvaro Morata, with the striker a doubt due to a muscular complaint.
Joao Felix, Kieran Trippier and Hector Herrera all missed the first leg through injury, but the trio form part of Atleti's 24-man travelling squad. As does Thomas Lemar, who was forced off midway through their 1-0 victory over the Reds.
Training time
Check out 47 photos as Liverpool trained at Melwood on the eve of this mouthwatering encounter...
TV channels and live coverage details
The match will be shown live on BT Sport in the UK, while extended highlights will be available on LFCTV GO from 11pm GMT.
You can also listen to the game live with our free audio commentary service.
For more information on broadcasting schedules where you are, click here.
Press conference
Jürgen Klopp was joined by Andy Robertson yesterday to answer questions from journalists. Watch the pair preview the last-16 encounter in the YouTube video below...
Did you know?
Roberto Firmino has been directly involved in seven goals in five Champions League knockout appearances at Anfield (three goals, four assists), averaging a goal or assist every 54 minutes.
The last encounter
First things first, take a look back on the nip-and-tuck first leg with the highlights package below...
Another big Anfield night awaits
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Liverpool's Champions League showdown with Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
I'm sure you're all like us and absolutely cannot wait for this one. So, stay right here throughout the day for the best of the build-up, action and reaction from L4.
Up the Reds!
