LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Holders Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League in the last 16 after Atletico Madrid struck three times in extra time to earn a shock 3-2 victory at Anfield on Wednesday (March 11) that sent them through 4-2 on aggregate.
After falling 2-0 down on the night, substitute Marcos Llorente struck twice in extra time and Alvaro Morata added a late third to ensure a famous victory for Diego Simeone's side against a Liverpool team unbeaten in their last 25 home games in European competition.
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp was critical of his opponents' tactics and said afterwards: "I am completely happy with the performance. It's so difficult to play a side like this.
"I don't understand with the quality they have the football they play. They could play proper football but they stand deep and have counter attacks.
"We accept it of course but it doesn't feel right tonight. I realise I am a really bad loser, especially when the boys put such an effort in against world class players on the other side who defend with two rows of four."
Liverpool, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, broke through two minutes before halftime when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain burst to the byline and pulled back a cross to Georginio Wijnaldum who powered an angled header into the bottom corner.
After the interval Liverpool peppered Atletico keeper Jan Oblak but the Spaniards survived and almost pulled off a last-minute shock when a header from Saul Niguez was ruled out for offside.
Liverpool took the lead in the tie four minutes into extra time with Roberto Firmino heading against the post and then driving home the loose ball.
Yet then it all went wrong for Klopp's side - a dreadful pass out from goalkeeper Adrian straight to Joao Felix, gifted Atletico the ball and Llorente punished the Liverpool keeper for his error with a precise shot into the far corner.
Llorente then produced a carbon-copy finish as Liverpool's defence backed off following good work on the counter from Morata to end Liverpool's hopes of defending their European crown. Morata put the icing on the cake in the final moments after a breakaway.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson rued his side's missed chances. He said: "Oblak had a great game, and we did create so many chances - we just couldn't find the net, we couldn't find that third goal to kill the game off. We left everything on the field and that's what is important.
""It's hard to play against a team that defends very well and that is how they play. But we created a lot of chances, its not like we didn't create them. Overall we're so disappointed and for the rest of today and tomorrow it won't feel nice, but we have to use it to help us finish the season strong.
"Our focus is now on the derby, that's up next. It's a big game, and we'll just take it game by game to ensure we can finish this season strongly."
Premier League leaders Liverpool face Everton on Monday. The Reds top the table on 82 points with nine matches remaining. They are 25 points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
