Liverpool dramatically crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of a wily Atletico Madrid side on Wednesday evening, losing 3-2 on the night, having taken the tie to extra time. It was an inspired display from the Madrid side who turned on the afterburners after 90 minutes and pulled away from the reigning European champions. Jason Burt, from The Telegraph, was watching the match and subsequently identified the critical difference between the two clubs which saw Liverpool fall at the first knockout hurdle.
What did he say?
Writing in the Telegraph, Burt said: “Adrian has previously proved to be an able deputy for the injured Alisson, but he was sadly at fault as Atletico Madrid remarkably scored three extra-time goals.”
The journalist added: “At the other end of the pitch stood Jan Oblak, who can lay claim with Alisson to be called the world’s best goalkeeper, and although the Slovenian was beaten twice he produced save after stunning save to deny wave after relentless wave of Liverpool attacks.”
Vast disparity between the sticks
Oblak had a terrific night, with Liverpool firing off 26 shots on target in the opening 90 minutes of action, with the Atletico goalkeeper resisting all but one of those attempts. He has been a colossus for the Madrid side in La Liga this season keeping 11 clean sheets, in 27 matches, which is 40.7 per cent of the games he has featured in, as per FootyStats. Meanwhile, during those appearances, along with eight in the Champions League, Oblak has conceded a minuscule 25 goals, for an average of a goal every 1.4 games.
The Slovenian international has a merely astonishing record at the pinnacle of the game, and his heroics between the sticks were the difference between Diego Simeone’s side licking their lips ahead of the quarter-final draw and Liverpool being left to focus their efforts on the Premier League.
Adrian had yet another disastrous evening in a cup competition, just over a week on from when his mistakes cost them an FA Cup quarter-final place at the hands of Chelsea. On this occasion, his misplaced clearance was sent straight to the feet of Marcos Llorente who coolly slotted beyond the backpedalling stoppers reach. Since deputising in Allison’s place, he is yet to keep a clean sheet and has now conceded six goals in three matches.
The difference between both goalkeepers could not have been more apparent at Anfield and ultimately missing Allison’s assured presence proved to be the critical difference that saw Liverpool crash out at the hands of Simeone’s side after an assured display from the Spanish giants.
