Liverpool’s senior team suffered only their second defeat of the season last night as Atletico Madrid took advantage of their Champions League last-16 tie following a 1-0 victory at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium – and many Liverpool supporters have reacted on Twitter following the loss.
MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 19: Saul Niguez of Atletico Madrid celebrates a goal during the UEFA Champions League football match, round 16, played between Atletico de Madrid and Liverpool FC at Wanda Metropolitano stadium on February 19, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
Diego Simeone inspired a tactical masterclass from his team after Saul Niguez’s early strike gave the hosts the lead before the Spanish giants put 11 men behind the ball for practically 86 minutes.
It compounded an already miserable run away from home against Spanish opposition for Jurgen Klopp who has now lost all seven of his managerial away trips in Spain.
Liverpool failed to even register one solitary effort on target for the first time since September 2018 (Napoli (A)) as Atletico shot-stopper Jan Oblak failed to be tested on a disappointing night for the competition’s holders.
The Spanish capital may have special memories for Kopites in what Klopp called ‘the greatest night of my life’ following Liverpool’s Champions League triumph back in June. A city which holds beautiful recollections for Liverpudlians, but this time it was against them in a contest that saw the Reds not just beaten but bloodied.
Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (R) talks to Polish referee Szymon Marciniak during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16, first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Liverpool FC at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on February 18, 2020. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP) (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)
The referee certainly didn’t cover himself in glory amongst the Liverpool fan base following a disjointed performance from the Polish official who consistently allowed Atletico to utilise their notorious antics of time-wasting and winning questionable free-kicks.
Following the Reds’ inaugural defeat of 2020, many Liverpool supporters took to Twitter to showcase their disgust at the performance of the refereeing officials as Atletico take the initial advantage to Anfield in three weeks time.
Here is a look at some of the reactions to the controversial refereeing display…
This is the level of refereeing incompetence that we were dealing with tonight. Beyond embarrassing. https://t.co/0HK7h0hiPw
— Kloppholic (@Kloppholic) February 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/cheduardo99/status/1229889703761104896
Polish Martin Atkinson
— MaltaRed77 (@MaltaRed77) February 18, 2020
Worst ref performance this season.
— Anfielder (@Anfielder247) February 18, 2020
Certainly doesn’t deserve another champions league game
— Ryan simons (@stfcsimons) February 18, 2020
No excuses we werent good enough and created very little…. but he was awful!!
— Dan Hartree (@Dhlfc8) February 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/ApizLiverpool/status/1229891367943495683