Griezmann sees red as Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid to continue their perfect start to the Champions League camapign

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Mohamed Salah scored a late penalty to ensure Liverpool made it three wins from three in Group B against 10-man Atletico Madrid in a topsy-turvy encounter in Spain.

Liverpool started the match on the front foot and looked to assert their authority in the noisy atmosphere at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

The Reds, playing in yellow on this occasion, passed the ball well from the outset and got off to a dream start when Salah cut in from the right-hand side. The Egyptian beat three defenders before his shot was deflected past Jan Oblak by James Milner.

UEFA seemed to go back and forth on who to award the goal to but eventually settled on Salah which moved him into double figures for the season already.

The hosts barely had a chance to respond when Liverpool added a second in the 13th minute. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross from the right caused panic in the Atletico penalty area as the ball was cleared only as far as Naby Keita who smashed home a first-time volley from outside the area.

It was a magnificent goal that gave a world-class goalkeeper absolutely no chance.

Jurgen Klopp’s side appeared to be in total control but Atletico had other ideas and were soon back in the contest.

Thomas Lemar beat Keita near the byline and pulled the ball all the way across to Koke whose shot was splendidly turned in by Antoine Griezmann.

Diego Simeone found their rhythm once more and were close to an equaliser through Griezmann but Alisson denied the Frenchman.

However, he wasn’t to be denied shortly after. Joao Felix did brilliantly to past Keita and fed Griezmann who took a sensational first touch and slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Liverpool were rattled and looked glad to get in at half-time while the hosts had their tales up.

The game took a huge shift at the beginning of the second half after Griezmann’s red card. There was no malice in the challenge but it was a high one on Roberto Firmino and referee Daniel Siebert sent the Frenchman off.

Liverpool looked to take charge again and Andy Robertson should have done better when well placed inside the area but flashed his effort over.

The visitors were struggling to break down the 10 men before Mario Hermoso gifted Liverpool with a golden opportunity when he barged into substitute Diogo Jota in the penalty area.

Salah stepped up and put his miss against AC Milan behind him to calmly slot home and restore the advantage.

Klopp would have expected his side to see the game out from there on but they suffered an almighty scare when Siebert pointed to the spot when Jota bumped into Jose Gimenez.

VAR advised the official to review his decision and the German decided to overturn his initial call. It was to the surprise of many as it looked like a daft challenge from Jota.

Liverpool had used their get out of jail free card and held on after that without much danger as they took a huge stride towards the knockout stages.

A win in two weeks time in the reverse fixture will see Liverpool reach the last 16 and could even see the top spot secured.

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