Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid: Llorente, Morata score as Atletico beat Reds 3-2
- Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid saw the Spanish giants stage a dramatic comeback to dump the Reds out of Champions League
- The second leg clash played at Anfield finished 3-2 as Atletico progressed to the quarters on a 4-2 goal aggregate
- Substitute Marcos Llorente emerged match hero for the La Liga giants as his extra time brace earned them a dream ticket to the last eight
- Liverpool were keen to qualify for the next round of the European showpiece for a chance to reclaim the title they won last season
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Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Champions League clash saw the Anfield outfit exit the tournament in the round of 16 after losing the tie on a 4-2 goal aggregate.
An extra time sensational brace from Marcos Llorente during extra time of the Wednesday night, March 11, meeting rendered Wijnaldum's opener and Firmino's strike a mere consolation.
Despite some ferocious attacking from Liverpool in the closing stages of the match in regulation time, Atletico held on to force the clash into extra time.
Liverpool came into the last 16 tie knowing too well that only a victory could guarantee them a place in the quarter finals of the European competition.
The Reds suffered a 1-0 defeat in Madrid during the reverse tie courtesy of Saul Niguez's goal, leaving the Merseyside with an uphill task to overturn the deficit in the second leg in their pursuit to reclaim the title.
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Jurgen Klopp went on to field a strong side for the defining home encounter, with the attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino starting upfront.
The hosts were the dominant sides from the blow of the whistle, creating a number of clear cut chances as Atletico struggled to settle in.
Salah had the best goalscoring opportunity inside 10 minutes of action, but saw his curled effort fly over the bar.
Alexander-Arnold went close for Liverpool in the 36th minuted with an incisive cross which was brilliantly palmed away by Jan Oblak.
But with just two minutes to the break, Gini Wijnaldum broke the deadlock, heading home after benefiting from Oxlade-Chamberlain's delightful cross to make it 1-0 and 1-1 on aggregate.
With neither side scoring a winner in the second half, the match had to be decided in extra time, with Atletico Madrid staging a dramatic comeback to dump the title holders out of the competition.
Firmino thought he had won it for the Reds after making it 2-0 in the 104th minute, only for Marcos Llorente to net twice and Alvaro Morata to score at the death to send Atletico to the quarters on a 4-2 goal aggregate.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that Ronaldinho is set to appear in a futsal tournament in Paraguay but it will be held in the prison he is being detained, reports in Brazil claim, cited on The Sun.
The Brazilian legend and brother Roberto de Assis were recently arrested for using a fake passport into the neighboring country and could spend six months in jail.
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