Limp Liverpool Capitulate to Colchoneros

Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool 

Well, not much point in writing a full match review after that. While Atletico's goal was a combination of luck, crap attacking, and worse defending, there can be no arguing that they deserved the result. Diego Forlan didn't do his reputation any favours with an attacking display that was more bungling than brilliant, but he managed to grab the crucial goal that puts Atletico in an excellent position in this Europa League Semi-Final.

Atletico's game plan worked to perfectly, pressing Liverpool high up the field, not giving them a chance to counter, and keeping possession. Atletico were dangerous down the flanks, and over the course of the match created far more opportunities than static Liverpool. Benayoun managed to get the ball in the net at one point, but a contentious off-sides call ruled it out. It was a mediocre match overall, with neither team showing much quality, but Atletico at least can claim to have put in a solid display against a Liverpool side that showed no ambition, drive, energy, or spirit.

Luckily for Liverpool, Atletico put on a display of finishing that would embarrass Heskey, with Forlan particularly culpable. His 9th minute goal came after he misjudged a perfect cross, botched his header, and barely managed to hit the ball off Reina's leg and watch it loop in to the corner, despite Carragher's desperate lunge. No one cared though, the ball was in the net despite Forlan and Liverpool's botched efforts. It was a deserved lead, and Liverpool couldn't complain.
Despite periods of possession, the away side showed little attacking spirit through the rest of the match, with Benayoun and substitute Ryan Babel the only players posing any danger to the Atleti rear-guard. Atletico had several more opportunities to extend their lead, but Forlan's idiotic decision to try and chip Reina when through on goal wasted one of them, and Reina's superb reflex save on Simao kept the scoreline at 1-0.

In the end, not a night to remember for Liverpool, and while Atletico will fancy their chances of going through, Liverpool know that the tie is not beyond them, and that a strong showing at home should be enough to see them through to the Europa League Final.