Diego Simeone admitted that Atletico Madrid could not deal with the ‘fantastic’ quality of Trent Alexander-Arnold during Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League group-stage defeat against Liverpool, while speaking to Mundo Deportivo.
In an intriguing battle between two full-backs-turned-playmakers, it is fair to say one England international outshone the other at Anfield.
While Kieran Trippier struggled to exert any sort of influence on proceedings, the same cannot be said of his opposite number.
Alexander-Arnold created both Liverpool’s goals on the night, setting up Diogo Jota’s 13th-minute opener with the sort of glorious first-time cross that has become his trademark before repeating the trick as Sadio Mane doubled the lead.
“They started very well,” admitted Simeone, whose side went down to ten man for the second time against Liverpool this season thanks to Felipe’s 36th-minute dismissal by overworked referee Danny Makkelie.
“They have a lot of force, we couldn’t play the game we wanted. I think it was more precision from them, they threw some fantastic crosses – Alexander-Arnold – and they manage to play at a speed that they take advantage of.”
Is Trent Alexander-Arnold the world’s best full-back?
Successive defeats against the 2019 European champions mean Atletico face a battle to qualify for the knock-out stages, sitting third in the group behind an FC Porto side who claimed a creditable draw away at AC Milan last night.
Simeone, however, was quite relieved to find himself on the end of a 2-0 scoreline; particularly given that Atleti had spent almost an hour playing with a man down against a rampant Liverpool side.
“We knew it was going to be tough until the end,” Simeone added.
“I am bitter because the game went very quickly, the goals, the red card. I also accept the second half, (we managed to stop) a team that, if it has to score seven goals against you, it does.”
On a night full of positives, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sadio Mane, Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota produced arguably their finest performances of the campaign while the irrepressible Mo Salah tortured Mario Hermoso throughout.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
