'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It's official, the defending champions have been knocked out of the Champions League, with Atletico Madrid defeating Liverpool 3-2 after extra-time at Anfield to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
The Spaniards came into the fixture with a narrow 1-0 advantage lead from the first leg and forced extra-time in the match having lost by the same scoreline at the end of 90 minutes but a brace by Marcos Llorente and a late strike from Alvaro Morata condemned Liverpool to their first European home defeat in six years.
Diego Simeone made three changes from the side that prosecuted the first leg, with Sime Vrsaljko, Thomas Lemar, and Alvaro Morata replaced by Kieran Tripper, Joao Felix, and Diego Costa respectively and it was the latter that had the first chance of the game after just 13 seconds when he was played through by Angel Correa but the Spaniard could only send his shot wide.
From then on it was one-way traffic, with Liverpool forcing the issue and they deservedly levelled the tie when Gini Wjnaldum headed past Jan Oblak after being left unmarked in the area two minutes before half-time.
The second half continued in much the same fashion but the hosts could not find a winner, with Robertson's header off the post the closest they came and Atletico thought they had won the tie with a 93rd minute goal but Saul Niguez was rightly flagged for offisde.
Roberto Firmino put Liverpool ahead with his first Anfield goal of the season after scoring from a rebound off the post but a quickfire brace from Marcos Llorente placed the visitors in the driving seat and Alvaro Morata put the icing on the cake with virtually the last kick of the game.
The result means that Liverpool would fail to defend their title and have just the Premier League to play for, while Atletico Madrid would match on to the quarterfinal.
Given their indifferent away form this season, not many gave Atletico a chance to progress but they delivered the goods and came up tops against one of the best sides on the continent and here, we shall be highlighting five reasons why Liverpool lost the clash to Atletico Madrid.
#5 Adrian's gaffe
Liverpool were rocked by the news that first-choice goalkeeper Alisson was ruled out of this tie with a calf injury and in his place, summer signing Adrian mounted the sticks against Los Colchoneros.
However, the 34-year-old is a far less assured presence between the sticks than his Brazilian counterpart and has shown signs of nervousness in games where he has played, particularly over the weekend against Bournemouth.
The former West Ham man was relatively untested for much of the game due to Liverpool's overt dominance but he did well to keep out an effort from Angel Correa in the second half.
With just seven minutes gone in extra-time, Adrian received a totally harmless backpass from Trent-Alexader Arnold but in shocking fashion, he kicked the ball straight to Joao Felix who laid it on for Marcos Llorente to give Atletico a precious away goal.
This was reminiscent of scenes from the not-too-distant past for Liverpool fans which Alisson's arrival has helped erase and with a scarcely deserved away goal, the visitors upped the ante and went on to get the victory after yet another piece of questionable goalkeeping from Adrian.
Without Adrian's error, Liverpool would have held a comfortable 2-0 advantage and with Atletico forced to come out in search of an away goal, this would have left spaces behind to further exploit but a moment of madness from their backup goalkeeper put paid to all their efforts on the night.
#4 Individual brilliance from Marcos Llorente
Marcos Llorente has not exactly sparkled since arriving at Atletico Madrid from Real Madrid and the 25-year-old was started on the bench alongside another former Blanco who has failed to hit the heights expected.
The midfielder got his opportunity 13 minutes into the second half and while Diego Costa was visibly upset at the decision to haul him off, Llorente justified the swap by putting in his best display in the white and red of Atletico.
He instantly slotted in as the most advanced of the four midfielders and it was from here that he wrecked havoc, ending the night with two goals and an assist to send Liverpool packing in front of their own fans.
Llorente was well placed to receive the pass from Joao Felix after the mistake by Adrian and his second goal was even more brilliant, expertly gliding past the challenge of Jordan Henderson before slotting home from 20 yards after being played in by Alvaro Morata.
His night was ended on a high note when he returned the favour to the Spanish striker late in the game and his performance would give him serious credits in Simeone's eyes for a more frequent role in the team.
#3 Inspired performance from Jan Oblak
Despite having an almost impenetrable defence in front of him, Jan Oblak still merits mention as arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, with the Slovak always on hand to make key saves which prove invaluable for his side given their goal-shy nature.
He was not called into action in the first leg against Liverpool - who failed to register a single shot on target but it was a much different story this time around, with the hosts fashioning chance after chance which brought out the best in the 27-year-old.
The Merseysiders carved open the Atleti defence on several occasions but they found an immovable obstacle in the person of Oblak who pulled off spectacular saves to deny Oxlade Chamberlain, Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Wjnaldum and virtually every other player in the Liverpool squad.
This ran in contrast with Adrian's shocking display at the other end and Oblak's 12 saves on the night were enough to give his side victory in Merseyside.
There's a popular saying that great goalkeepers win titles and with Jan Oblak in this form, Atletico Madrid would fancy their chances of coming up against anyone.
#2 Atletico Madrid were more clinical
Liverpool were on the front foot from start to finish and dominated Atletico Madrid in virtually every department. They clocked 64% possession to Atletico's 36% and also had 29 shots (14 on target) to 10 (four on target).
However, whereas the home side converted just two of their 14 shots on target, their visitors were far more clinical, with three of their four shots on target ending up in the back of the Liverpool net.
They had a direct game plan that saw them go long at every opportunity and while they might have owed their opener to a massive slice of luck, it takes nothing away from what was a clinical finish for both goals by Marcos Llorente who showed a striker's instinct for his second from 20 yards.
Atletico Madrid knew that chances would come at a premium against Liverpool and even the normally profligate Alvaro Morata took his opportunity when it came his way and this marked contrast with Liverpool's lack of clinicality proved to be instrumental in their progression.
#1 Tactical masterclass from Diego Simeone
Even though he might not be as highly revered as some of his peers like Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, Diego Simeone has easily been one of the best managers in the world over the last decade.
Coming up against an emphatic side like Liverpool, the 49-year-old recognized his side's limitations and defended deeply in the first leg, with Saul's early goal giving him the impetus to let Liverpool have the ball until the 50-yard line before cutting off their supply lines to their chief attacking threats in Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson.
It was more of the same in the second leg, with the more physical Diego Costa replacing Alvaro Morata and seeing that the former Chelsea man was not giving him what he wanted, he hauled him off 10 minutes into the second half for Marcos Llorente, with Angel Correa and Joao Felix occupying the attacking positions.
Simeone's gameplan was not to concede more than two goals in normal time and to push for a late away goal and despite falling two behind at the start of extra-time, his message of calm to his players was indicative that all was still in order.
Within minutes, his side had turned the tie on its head and while the players deserve praise for playing the game of their lives in front of a raucous Anfield, their manager deserves special credit for coming off with a tactical masterclass to see off the European champions.
The fact that all three goals were scored by players he introduced from the bench acts as further proof of his tactical awareness and he was good value for his victory across both legs.
