Liverpool take on Atletico Madrid tonight in the first leg of their round-of-16 Champions League tie at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Diego Simeone was full of praise for the reigning European champions in the build-up to the contest, saying Liverpool would “go down in history” as one of the great Champions League teams, while Jurgen Klopp was complimentary in his assessement of the Spanish side.
Liverpool come into the tie as favourites, given their place at top of the Premier League while Atletico are fourth in La Liga, but Simeone’s team have made a habit of disrupting the flows of attacking sides in the past and the Reds must be wary of stubborn defence. Follow all the latest action live:
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Simeone’s side have the lead and have, perhaps, got in the heads of Liverpool’s players in that half too.
A lot of niggly fouls, easy calls for the referee and frustrated away players.
YELLOW CARD
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
45′ – Into stoppage time we go. Angel Correa also goes into the book for leaving a sneaky knee in on Henderson. One minute added on.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
42′ – Liverpool unable to find the gaps through the centre as they look for a late strike on goal. Lemar leads a counter, but delays his pass and Correa is offside – then nobody is there when he does eventually play it through.
YELLOW CARD
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
39′ – Into the final five or six minutes of the half. Correa goes down after a very slight touch from Gomez and Liverpool players are frustrated at the amount of stoppages.
Mane then clatters Vrsaljko around the head and picks up a yellow card.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
36′ – Big chance for Salah! Firmino and Wijnaldum combine in the area and it’s poked through to Salah in a central area, but his shot is blocked by Felipe’s head and flies over.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
32′ – Liverpool dominating possession and territory, but much of their ball work is coming around 10 yards outside Atletico’s area. The crossing hasn’t been on-point yet this evening and Simeone’s team have been resolute in defence so far.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
29′ – Nearly half an hour played and Liverpool have their first shot – Andy Robertson sends one wide with his right foot from 25 yards.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
26′ – Salah has the ball in the net, but it’s disallowed immediately for offside. A bad clearance goes straight to the forward, his control flies about 20 yards forward and Firmino has to pass it back to Salah before he can tuck home, but the Brazilian was well offside.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
25′ – Big save from Alisson! Van Dijk’s headed clearance goes straight to Morata, he turns Fabinho and shoots low – saved by the keeper!
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
23′ – Felipe is down but not needing treatment. Perhaps a result of a chase with Henderson a moment ago. Fabinho is clattered in the air by Morata and Liverpool can keep the pressure on.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
20′ – Renan Lodi sends a brilliant cross over which is set to meet Morata at the far post – but Robertson makes a great sliding interception to hook the ball away. This corner is defended better, with Alisson gathering up.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
16′ – Atletico have never lost a Champions League knock-out match at home under Simeone. Liverpool have never lost a two-legged tie in any European competition under Klopp. Will either statistic give over the 180 minutes?
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
13′ – Another cross into the crowd from Alexander-Arnold, with two waiting for the ball into the middle. Liverpool have Atletico pinned back now, two banks of four on the edge of their own box. Very compact, very organised from the home team.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
10′ – Firmino wins possession for Liverpool in the Atletico half, but a first crossing chance for Trent Alexander-Arnold ends in a wayward delivery. The away team just starting to settle a little now on the ball.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
6′ – In games with a full-strength team, that’s the first goal Liverpool have conceded since Wolves, just under a month ago. What a boost for Atletico, who have started really well. Correa races away down the left channel and puts a ball along the six-yard box, but nobody is there and he’s flagged offside anyway.
GOAL!
GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
3′ – What a start for the home team! A corner is swung over by Koke, bounces off Fabinho’s foot and falls to Saul – who side-foots home from two yards!
Atletico Madrid 0-0 Liverpool
2′ – Jeers from the home side as the Reds earn some early possession. A few early nerves on show too perhaps, judging by one or two overhit passes.
KICK OFF
Kick-off!
We are underway at the Wanda Metropolitano and the Champions League is back!
Kick-off approaching
This could be the first of several epic encounters across the last 16. Which way will this 90 minutes go though? Atletico surely need something positive, given how strong Liverpool are at home. On the other hand, if the Reds play as they usually do, they could dominate enough to get chances and score one or two themselves.
When is the match
The match kicks off at 8pm at the Wanda Metropolitano.
What TV channel is it on?
The game will be broadcast to BT Sport subscribers on BT Sport 2.
Viewers can also access coverage online via the BT Sport app.
Prediction
Liverpool to be too good for Atletico and hurt them with their pace, winning 1-0 in a game of few chances.
