INTERNATIONAL: Liverpool and Paris Saint Germain are on track in the UEFA Champions’ League after Tuesday night’s group matches. Liverpool overcame Atletico Madrid 3-2, while PSG notched up a 3-2 comeback victory at home to RB Leipzig.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah netted a double, including the winner, as they secured a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid, who they’d struggled against in the past. Salah’s winner came from the penalty spot after Antoine Griezmann was given a red card for a dangerous high boot, but the night then saw Atletico awarded a penalty of their own, before it was overturned on review, a decision which didn’t go down well with their fans, as acknowledged by Liverpool manager, Juergen Klopp:
"I heard it now already a lot of times. Of course, I understand that Atletico people or Spanish people are upset or don't like the decisions, but I think the first, our penalty, the penalty we conceded is a clear penalty, and the penalty for Atletico, in my understanding, is not a penalty. But when he whistled it, I was a bit surprised that they took it back because I only saw it once and I didn't think it was a penalty. It was clear what they wanted in that moment, and the red card, of course, it's unlucky but I think it's a red card. You cannot change that, the foot is in the face, that's what you get red cards for. Though that's not cool but it happened, and there. That's the story of the game, pretty much. We still had to defend with all we have because even with 10 men they were quite intense to play. But the dirty three points are very often the most important, and they were dirty tonight of course. To be honest, it's not our best football but we got them and that's a big step."
The win keeps Liverpool top of Group B on nine points, five ahead of second-placed Atletico and Porto in third, with AC Milan pointless at the bottom of the table.
Meanwhile…Paris St Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi found their groove as they inspired their side to a 3-2 comeback win at home to RB Leipzig. Mbappe was the first to strike and Messi had the France forward to thank for his second-half double. Mbappe, who missed a stoppage-time penalty, set up Messi for the equaliser and won the spot kick that the Argentine converted with an ice-cool chip after what had been a pretty dull performance from the club's new signing.
The result leaves PSG top of Group A with seven points from three games, one ahead of Manchester City, who demolished Club Brugge 5-1. Leipzig remain pointless at the bottom of the group.
