KEY POINTS

  • Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid 3-2 in UCL on Tuesday
  • Salah scored the winner for Liverpool
  • Liverpool are yet to lose in UCL this season

Jurgen Klopp called Diego Simeone's reaction "not so cool" as the Argentinean opted not to shake hands with his counterpart after Liverpool FC pulled a 3-2 win against 10-man Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

In-form Mo Salah opened the scoring with his eighth-minute strike before he doubled Liverpool’s lead after netting a second goal a few minutes later. Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann brought the home team right back into the game with a brace and by 34 minutes, it was 2-2 at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Late in the second half, Atletico’s Mario Hermoso brought down Liverpool striker Diogo Jota in the box, making way for Salah’s winner.

At the final whistle, an irked Simeone just walked down the tunnel instead of doing the customary routine including a sporting handshake with the opponent’s manager.

"We don't like that, but yes, the situation is clear. I want to shake his hand. His reaction for sure, like mine, was not so cool. The next time we see each other we will definitely shake hands. It's nothing. He was obviously angry, not with me but with the game. There is nothing else," Klopp told BT Sport after Liverpool’s incredible win in Madrid on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Simeone explained the incident as a sheer miscommunication, as he generally doesn't do handshakes after matches.

"I never shake hands after a match, because I don’t like it. It isn’t healthy for either the one who wins or the one who loses. That’s the way I see it. But now when I see him I will shake his hand without problem," Simeone was quoted by Goal, as saying in a post-match interview.

Mohamed Salah scored twice for Liverpool in a dramatic game in Madrid
Mohamed Salah scored twice for Liverpool in a dramatic game in Madrid AFP / GABRIEL BOUYS

Earlier, Griezmann’s excitement had not lasted long as he was slapped with a red card following his bad foul on Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino. The Frenchman kicked Firmino in the face with a high boot and as a result, he became the first-ever player in the history of the Champions League to score two goals and earn a red card, according to Goal.

With three wins in as many games, Liverpool have nine points and are at the top of Group B in the 2021-22 Champions League. Klopp’s side have a huge game coming up next as they travel to Manchester to take on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United in the Premier League on Sunday.

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