Atlético came out to weather the storm at Anfield with Simeone's classic 1-4-4-2 (Oblak; Trippier, Savic, Felipe, Lodi; Correa, Koke, Saúl; João Félix and Diego Costa), who had a Offensive variant (1-4-3-2-1) creating a line for Joao and Correa behind Costa, although the line that had the most work was the first of Jan Oblak who avoided three clear goals before Liverpool went ahead. Cholo's plan A in the defensive phase was to make a pressure in three quarters of field and an intensive withdrawal when they exceeded the pressure. It remained to endure the downpour and try to get the Liverpool wings to make their centers to the area from the corner of the area and not reaching the baseline because those centers defend themselves better. Liverpool attacked but did not feel overwhelmed. And Atlético tried to go out on the counterattack, but the red they cut with tactical fouls on João Félix the fast attack starts of the mattress toppers.
Direct play. Atlético's start of play was as usual: direct game with Oblak pitch to Saul looking to win the duel and get the second play. In the 28th minute, Simeone decided to exchange the position of Saúl and Koke. With Saúl on the left wing and being late to close the center from the baseline, Wijnaldum's 1-0 came.
Subdued. Liverpool is a team that is very difficult to face because it knows how to attack a team in intensive retreat, which knows how to transition a team that defends it in a medium or high block. Klopp's team is an example of what alternation means in the game because they can play direct, combinatorial, on the counterattack and handle transitions with skill, precision and speed. The approach was not easy, but Atlético needed to score a goal to avoid overtime and failed in a second half in which it was more subdued than in the first. Defend everything possible and a goalkeeper, that was the plan. What stopped the Atlético goalkeeper in the second half was outrageous, like everyone's ability to sacrifice and suffer. Lodi drained water without much help before the attacks of Alexander Arnold, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Salah, whom he controlled. Felipe was a titan, but above all the figure of Oblak was erected.
Comeback. Simeone decided to remove Costa from the field (often Diego's anger!) And enter Marcos Llorente, on the right wing, Correa passing the attack partner of João Félix, who again showed that he plays wonderfully every time the ball came to him. This is how the game went to overtime, in which Simeone exhausted the changes (Vrsaljko by Trippier, Morata by Joao Félix and Giménez by Correa) and Atleti turned 2-0 thanks to Llorente's vigor and his ability to recover balls and overcome lines while driving and two of his shots from outside the area and the goal that Morata needed. Oblak continued to make history in overtime. In short, with an approach that did not surprise anyone except Klopp, based on Oblak's defense and stops, Simeone's Athletics knocked down the European champion And Klopp can't understand it either. It is what it is, Jurgen!