One of the best sides in the world, one of the best-organised and one of the best-motivated. That was Jürgen Klopp’s description of Atlético Madrid prior to his latest confrontation with Diego Simeone, but only one team merited those accolades at Anfield and it was not the tormented, ill-disciplined and soundly beaten champions of
Spain.
Liverpool cruised to a 25th game unbeaten in all competitions and into the
Champions League knockout phase with a fourth consecutive win in a group supposedly fraught with danger. No
Liverpool team had won its opening four group matches before but early goals from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mané made this an unexpectedly comfortable night for Klopp’s men. It has been an unexpectedly comfortable passage for Liverpool, one entirely of their own superior making.