Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool: Mohamed Salah's Brace Gifts the Reds Victory over 10-Men Athetico Madrid

Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool: Mohamed Salah's Brace Gifts the Reds Victory over 10-Men Atletico Madrid: Mohamed Salah continued his blistering form on Tuesday, scoring twice in a 3-2 Champions League triumph over 10-man Atletico Madrid as Liverpool took command of Group B.


After moving past three Atletico players and shooting in, Salah gave Liverpool the lead at the Wanda Metropolitano, making it nine games in a row that the Egyptian has scored.


But there were more twists and turns to come in a frantic match in Madrid, as Naby Keita doubled the lead only for Atlhetico Madrid to hit twice before half-time, Antoine Griezmann hauling his team back into the game and leaving Liverpool looking temporarily dishevelled.

                               

However, Griezmann was sent off in the 52nd minute for a high foot into the face of Roberto Firmino, and Liverpool made Atleti pay, with Mario Hermoso's poor challenge on Diogo Jota giving Salah the chance to win the game from the penalty spot. Even with ten men, Atletico felt they had stolen a late draw when Luis Suarez came off the bench and immediately took a penalty against his former team.


Instead, after consulting the replay, referee Daniel Siebert enraged the home crowd by overturning his judgement. Liverpool now leads the group by five points, leaving Atletico Madrid to fight it out for second place with Porto. They each have four points.

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Salah was often on the periphery of a game that was high on adrenaline but poor on craft and inventiveness between his two goals. The 29-year-old, though, continued to be the difference, scoring his 11th and 12th goals of the season, demonstrating why he is widely regarded as the favorite for the Ballon d'Or.


When Salah got into dangerous situations, Diego Simeone's intention appeared to be to have Thomas Lemar doubling up with Yannick Carrasco, but Salah just brushed by both of them in the eighth minute.


He picked up the ball way out on the right, danced inside Carrasco, Lemar, and finally Koke before unleashing from the edge of the box, his shot deflecting off James Milner.


Atleti had hardly taken a breath when Liverpool made it two, this time through Felipe's surprisingly sloppy defending, his reckless clearance bouncing up to Keita, who volleyed it home first time on the volley. Liverpool were faster, stronger, and almost effortlessly sliced through Atletico, but the home side persevered and clawed their way back.


Atleti got one back from a corner after a chipped pass from the excellent Joao Felix had to be pushed out of Carrasco's reach at the back post. Lemar wriggled past Keita and his cross went through everyone in the area before settling with Koke, who did well to strike low into the melee, where Griezmann diverted in.


Simeone had a second chance to whip his arms towards the home supporters while waiting for a VAR check, and Atletico was once again believing. Felix sprinted clear, but Alisson stopped him, and Felix then pushed past Keita on the left touchline.


The opening was not evident as Griezmann was prodded inside, but Virgil van Dijk's angles were off, and Griezmann's first touch was decisive, ripping him through Liverpool's defence and providing space for a cool finish. Both Lemar and Carrasco came close either side of half-time, and Atletico seemed to have the upper hand, with Liverpool's early dominance fading.


Griezmann was sent off after lifting his foot high enough to make contact with the side of Firmino's head, despite his eyes remaining locked on the ball.


The dismissal disrupted the game's flow, as Atletico and Simeone looked for any opportunity to either get a Liverpool red card or waste time.


They appeared to have a chance until Hermoso blinked in the 76th minute, when his clumsy challenge on Jota under a high ball in the area prompted Siebert to nod to the spot. Salah rolled left, Jan Oblak leapt right.