Liverpool booked their ticket to the last 16 of the Champions League with a comfortable win over short-handed Atletico Madrid that ensured they will finish top of Group B.
Early goals by Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane, both created by Trent Alexander-Arnold, put the Reds in full command and there was no way back for the Spanish champion once Felipe was sent off before half-time.
Jurgen Klopp’s side could score more goals after the break but missed a flurry of chances and Jota had another strike ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee.
Atletico thought they had pulled a goal back from a deflected shot by former Reds striker Luis Suarez, but that too was chalked off for offside by VAR and they never seriously threatened to come back.
“That was important for us. When we played them away we were 2-0 up and they got it back to 2-2, so we were quite wary of that and making sure that didn’t happen again – manage the game properly, keep the ball, keep them running. Overall, pleasing. I thought we took the sting out of the game second half well and saw out the game well,” said Liverpool’s captain Jordan Henderson after the game.
This win extends the Reds’ unbeaten start to the season to 16 games.
In total, they have not tasted defeat for 25 matches, dating back to 6 April when they lost to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of last season’s Champions League.
Manchester City also cruised to a comfortable win beating Club Brugge 4-1 at Etihad. Raheem Sterling ended his 12-game goal drought. Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus also scored for the Citizens.
Dominik Szoboszlai scored in the stoppage time to secure a 2-2 draw for Leipzig against PSG.
