Jonathan Walters hits back at Michael Owen following controversial Liverpool tweets

Former Stoke City hero Jonathan Walters has hit back at Michael Owen on Twitter following the BT Sport pundit’s comments on Twitter amid Liverpool’s defeat to Atletico Madrid.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: Diego Simeone, Manager of Atletico Madrid celebrates his sides second goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on March 11, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp’s European champions were dumped out of the competition they reigned supreme in only nine months ago as Diego Simeone’s Spanish giants prevailed at Anfield last night.

The Reds were originally trailing 1-0 before the second-leg tie following Saul Niguez’s winning-strike at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium three weeks ago.

Georginio Wijnaldum clawed Liverpool back to level peggings after heading home before half-time. The Reds huffed and puffed looking for that crucial second goal in normal time but couldn’t blow the Atletico house down that was patrolled by the impenetrable Jan Oblak.

Roberto Firmino eventually scored four minutes into extra-time to claim his first Anfield goal of the season and put Liverpool in the ascendancy for the first time in 184 minutes of this enthralling Champions League tie.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: Marcos Llorente of Atletico Madrid celebrates with Alvaro Morata of Atletico Madrid after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on March 11, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

However, substitute Marcos Llorente came off the bench to capitalise on a catastrophic error from Adrian to turn the tie on it’s head with a brace. Alvaro Morata then completed the victory after firing home with practically the last kick of the game.

After the defeat, former Liverpool striker Owen took to Twitter to rally to Klopp’s defence and claimed that the Reds ‘absolutely pummeled’ Simeone’s team despite being eliminated from the competition.

This prompted a quick response from Walters that defended the Argentine coach claiming that in high-calibre matches such as last night, all that matters is winning.

He said: “Well it is a masterclass isn’t it!?”

“There’s no right or wrong way to play football, you play to win. Simeone and Atletico did that.   Whether everyone likes it or not, his tactics were spot on.”