Our 3️⃣ points as Liverpool make history, Atlético pip Milan and Porto | OneFootball

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Seamus Leonard·7 December 2021

Our 3️⃣ points as Liverpool make history, Atlético pip Milan and Porto

Article image:Our 3️⃣ points as Liverpool make history, Atlético pip Milan and Porto

It was dubbed the Group of Death when the draw was made in August, and it went down to the wire on Tuesday.

Liverpool had already comfortably secured top spot, but Porto, Atlético Madrid and Milan all still had a chance of joining the Reds in the knockout stages before matchday six began.


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After a dramatic night of action, it is Atlético who will have their name in the bowl for the round of 16.

Here are three points we took from Tuesday’s events.


Masters of the dark arts

Article image:Our 3️⃣ points as Liverpool make history, Atlético pip Milan and Porto

To say it was a fiesty encounter at the Estádio do Dragão would be quite the understatement.

Porto were undoubtedly the better side until Antoine Griezmann gave Atlético the lead early in the second half. From there, however, events took a drastic turn.

Firstly, Atleti’s Yannick Carrasco saw red for wrestling Otávio to the ground. In normal circumstances, you would worry about a team in that situation. Not Atleti, though.

Pretty soon Porto gave up their numerical advantage when Wendell lifted his elbow into the neck of Matheus Cunha. Wendell had only been on the field seven minutes after replacing Zaidu Sanusi. Agustín Marchesín also got his marching orders after the benches clashed, but that was less of an issue as the goalkeeper was only a substitute.

Further goals from Ángel Correa and Rodrigo de Paul rendered Sergio Oliveira’s stoppage-time penalty almost meaningless.

Bottom of the table at the start of the night. Into the knockouts at the end of it. A masterclass in finding a way to win against the odds.


Klopp dogs

Article image:Our 3️⃣ points as Liverpool make history, Atlético pip Milan and Porto

With top spot already secured, the only prize on offer for Liverpool was the chance to become the first English team to win all six of their group stage games.

Manager Jürgen Klopp made eight changes from the side that beat Wolves at the weekend, as he looked to rest legs in what is a punishing December schedule for the Reds.

It looked like the Reds would need to take their medicine when Fikayo Tomori put Milan ahead and boosted the hosts’ hopes of getting out of the group.

But Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi netted to turn the tie in the visitors’ favour.

In the end, the Premier League giants were able to comfortably complete their perfect record.

Liverpool have failed to reach the semi-finals since winning the Champions League in 2019. It’s very hard to see that run continuing on current form.


Misery for Milan

Article image:Our 3️⃣ points as Liverpool make history, Atlético pip Milan and Porto

Facing Liverpool brought inevitable comparisons to the famous 2005 Champions League final when Rafa Benítez’s plucky underdogs shocked Carlo Ancelotti’s hot favourites.

The tables were very much reversed this time, with Milan looking to reach the latter stages in their first season back in the competition in eight years.

Tomori’s opener offered Milan genuine hope they could do just that, but it only took Liverpool seven minutes to equalise. And Klopp’s understrength outfit would go on to take the lead and manage the game perfectly from there.

Milan never seriously looked liked they could rescue the situation, showing the dearth of Champions League experience Stefano Pioli has at his disposal.

The fact that they couldn’t even finish third to make the Europa League added insult to injury.

Leading Serie A at the moment, the Rossoneri must now ensure they are back at this level next season.