Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday evening at Anfield. The Reds qualified from their Champions League group with the win.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold had a fantastic first-half, setting up both goals for Liverpool against Atletico. He took full advantage of tight marking on Mohamed Salah to thrive in the extra space.
His delivery for the opener was brilliant. Alexander-Arnold swung a brilliant whipped cross in behind the Atletico Madrid backline, bouncing it up for Diogo Jota to head home.
And then he did it again – though, the assist may have been a shot. Whatever he meant to do, Alexander-Arnold again got the ball into a perfect area with a driven delivery.
This time Sadio Mane slotted it away for 2-0 against a struggling Atletico.
Wonderful from the Scouser, who left his mark on this game more than anyone else. Except maybe the referee.
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Diogo Jota
Jota was an absolute menace in this one. Atletico couldn’t keep track of him as he constantly drifted off defenders’ shoulders.
He got on the end of an Alexander-Arnold cross to score the first – a fine little header. Jota was then unfortunate not to have a second before half-time but Mohamed Salah opted not to play him in.
He was unfortunate twice more in the second half. Firstly, to have one ruled out for a very marginal offside and then a mistimed header could have been his brace.
No player was more threatening than Jota, who will come away a little frustrated to score just once. Like Sadio Mane, he’s benefitting from Liverpool’s setup right now.
Jordan Henderson
Liverpool went into this one knowing a controlled display would give them what they wanted. Atletico would eventually need to push on and the Reds could simply wait.
When they went 2-0 up, that need for a controlled performance increased even more so against Atletico. Just keep the ball, be sensible and see it out.
No one contributed more to that than Henderson. A 98% pass completion, two interceptions and wasn’t dispossessed once (stats per Whoscored).
Henderson delivered exactly what Liverpool needed for this one. A true captain’s performance.