Atletico Madrid 2-3 Liverpool: player ratings, heroes, villains and man of match

Liverpool maintained their perfect Champions League Group B record with an enthralling 3-2 win at Atletico Madrid.

It appeared the Reds were going to cruise to victory when Mo Salah opened the scoring on eight minutes and Naby Keita doubled the lead five minutes later.

However, Atletico hit back before half-time through a brace from Antoine Griezmann.

There was to be more drama in the second half when the home side were reduced to 10 men. Griezmann was the man to be given a red card for serious foul play for a high boot on Roberto Firmino.

The game appeared to be heading for a draw before Mario Hermoso needlessly gave away a penalty, which Salah tucked home.

The heroes

- Mo Salah: the man for the big occasion again steps up. His scintillating run was rewarded with Liverpool’s opening goal via a deflection. Then he was ice cool to stroke home the penalty to hand Liverpool all three points.

- Alisson Becker: the Liverpool goalkeeper had to come to his side’s rescue on several occasions. Had it not been for his important saves from the likes of Griezmann and Thomas Lemar then the Reds would be returning to Anfield empty-handed.

- Thomas Lemar: the France international was once a transfer target for Jurgen Klopp. It was his trickiness that engineered both of Atletico’s goals and nearly got on the scoresheet himself.

The villains

- Mario Hermoso: what on earth was the Atletico defender doing?! Hermoso barged into Diogo Jota in the area and the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot.. Diego Simeone was rightly fuming.

- Naby Keita: the midfielder might have scored a screamer for Liverpool’s second goal - but he was culpable in the build-up for both of Atletico’s comeback efforts. He was twice skipped past too easily by Lemar and it was no surprise that he was taken off at half-time.

- Diego Simeone: a superb manager, one of the best in the world. But the fact he refused to shake hands with Klopp and ran straight down the tunnel was petulant and petty.

Player ratings

Atletico (3-5-2): Oblak 5, Trippier 6, Felipe 5, Kondogbia 5 (Jiminez 46; 6), Hermoso 4 (Llorente 80), Carrasco 6, De Paul 5(Lodi dos Santos 80), Koke 6, Lemar 7 (Suarez 80), Joao Felix 7 (Correa 80), Griezmann 7.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson 8, Alexander-Arnold 6 (Gomez 85), Matip 6, Van Dijk 5, Robertson 6, Keita 5 (Fabinho 46; 6), Milner 7 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 62; 6), Henderson 6, Salah 8 (Williams 90+2), Firmino 7, Mane 5 (Jota 62; 6).

What’s next for Liverpool

The Reds have one of their biggest away games of the season on Sunday.

Klopp’s men make the trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United (16.30).