and all systems go here at anfield ahead of what should be an enthralling night of football
i'm derek ray joined here on the commentary box as always by lee dixon
and we've got so much to look forward to this is where it all begins in europe's premier
club competition the uefa champions league the group stage match day one action it is
liverpool against atletico madrid well the first group stage of the champions league
is always exciting three points is vital for both teams to get off to a good start
or a draw may be a good result as well we're about to find out what happens
and this is how liverpool start the game alison begins in goal andrew robertson starts with trent
alexander arnold in the pullback positions mohamed salah plays with sadio mane out wide
and the idea is to have just the one striker up there trying to pose problems for the opposition
uh
this is the starting lineup for atletico well there's no great mystery is there we
know normally how they're going to play and it's all about applying as much pressure as possible
lee can we anticipate seeing more of the same today yeah absolutely derek if you're
really good at something then why not they're very good at this all the team members have
bought into this style of play one player slacks off and it all falls apart though
andrew robertson
thiago
alexander arnold and he's through here ximena's with the block
oh they've won possession back what can they do from here
de powell
jimenez it's with helmozo or black
now the power
suarez now jimenez encouraging this from atletico now moving the ball impressively here
he's managed to lose his marker as clean as a whistle that challenge
tackling and winning the ball to boot
promising looking attack
it needs an accurate cross well they're going to be very
cross with themselves because that was a wasted opportunity
salah thiago
and mohammed salah now that's a useful cross making sure nothing untoward happened firmino
and a goal to offer the scoring no wonder they're celebrating
well here is the replay and to be fair the keeper from that distance hasn't got much
chance of keeping it out lovely goal another girl again albeit from a different angle
so the game has restarted liverpool in front
hermosa
it's a good-looking atletico move in the making trippier now will the cross work out for them
and the danger is averted
liverpool have hardly had the ball but they won't mind without the win in this game
they're sucking their opponents onto them and with the pace they've got in chance
to finish just what the liverpool fans wanted to see as they extend their lead to two goals
well here is a replay and it's a good ball in hard and low causing plenty of issues for
that back line and all he has to do is get anything on it for a simple goal in the end
well these players have followed he's every command anselm the coach must be delighted
it's going their way two-nil
well the perfect tackle really and now a throw in
gimenez
you could work to regain possession
fabinho manny now and liverpool might be able to cash in tiago might fancy x
fabinho and here's robertson
and perhaps a bit fortunate not to be shown the yellow card different story next time no doubt
and that brings to an end the first half here at anfield
he does set very high standards for himself but this has been something
of a struggle for luis suarez we expected more from him late yeah he struggled to
get the ball in the right areas i think you could put that down to his teammates
a little bit the service he's got is not up to scratch but he's and
so the second half of this champions league group stage match day one contest commences
in the right place to cut out the pass
now potential danger opportunity here almost a second goal of this match but the goalkeeper had
his own views on that subject well he'd be looking for a brace to striker not to be on that occasion
and over comes the corner well it all counts for naught
he has time to play us over
nothing to take on the shot or black no difficulties there
and the emphasis is on creativity
trippier
savage now koke suarez suarez well that's a splendid piece of challenging
amber inside the final 30 minutes
and they need to get tighter here but a crucial intervention inside the box
and there the attack ends for now
well they must say he acquitted himself well under pressure
atletico had been totally controlling possession but after that it's been
really disappointing players are looking at each other you got to take control you
got to take responsibility yourself make something happen in this game
trippier savage now jimenez
atletico have given us away
roberto firmino san diego really good block it has gone over the touch line for what will be a
throw in coming off the pitch and here's a change now for atletico coming on and very deftly cut out
with it read it well
looking confident with the ball at his face
now they've lost it
well let's make no bones about it this is a thorough
thrashing lead well the athletic players look down and out frustrated they might be and
quite rightly so a poor performance tonight let their standards drop inexcusable really
back to the drawing board in training next week i'm afraid no way back from here for me so
and everyone in the center looking on does it sailed over them
trippier
a really effective shielding under pressure savage
marcos jorente felix a good and fair challenge
now what can liverpool do with this advantageous situation
this is thiago and now henderson
salah oh it wasn't far away but above the crossbar
so full time it is and the morale boosting three points on the board to begin the european campaign
yeah really really strong start that's what you need but with five games to go very important
you stay in the now one game at a time derek bit of a cliche you always have a suspicion mo
salah will get high mark so that applies to this contest lee dixon well that was a really really
good performance from the lad and a goal to boot really delighted with that goal i'm sure he is