Mohamed Salah continued his superb form on Tuesday by scoring twice in a thrilling Champions League battle between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool beat the Spanish champions Atletico Madrid 3-2.
In a frantic, fantastic match in the Spanish capital between sides that were dazzling in attack but vulnerable at the back, the Reds saw an early two-goal lead wiped out by Antoine Griezmann’s double.
In a clash that felt more like a decisive knockout tie than a group stage match, Liverpool raced into a two-goal lead, with Salah capping a wonderful dribble with a deflected drive past Jan Oblak (8) to score for the ninth game in a row, before Naby Keita crashed a superb volley home from a half-clearance.
Atletico fought back brilliantly, though, with Griezmann justifying his selection ahead of Luis Suarez, who surprisingly began on the bench, with a quick double of his own.
The Frenchman turned in from close range after a corner (20) and then arrowed in his second (34) from the edge of the box, with Atletico benefitting from loose marking from Keita in the build-up to both goals.
The equaliser sparked wild celebrations from Atletico boss Diego Simeone and it could have been worse for the visitors at the break, with Alisson pulling off three sharp stops to keep out Griezmann, Joao Felix and Thomas Lemar during a chance-filled first half.
But on 52 minutes Griezmann was shown a straight red for a high boot on Roberto Firmino and, although the 10 men of Atletico defended admirably, Salah (78) restored the visitors’ lead from the penalty spot after a senseless shove from Mario Hermoso on Diogo Jota undid that good work.
Jurgen Klopp’s side almost squandered their position again when Jota leant into Jose Gimenez at a free-kick and sent the Atletico man tumbling but after a spot-kick was awarded, referee Daniel Siebert overruled his own decision from a pitchside monitor following a VAR check, infuriating the home fans inside the Wanda Metropolitano.
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