Liverpool talking points as Reds seal top spot with emphatic Atletico Madrid win

Liverpool secured their safe passage into the Champions League knockout stages with a routine 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

Goals from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane handed Jurgen Klopp's side the victory that will guarantee them top spot in Group B with two games still remaining.

Atleti had plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges, but it was the hosts that opened the scoring after just 13 minutes.

Jota was the man to get his name on the scoresheet, but it was all about Trent Alexander-Arnold's wicked ball. The England international fizzed a cross into the box, leaving Jota with the simple task of nodding his side in front.

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Sadio Mane celebrates after scoring Liverpool's second goal vs Atletico Madrid

Less than ten minutes later Liverpool had doubled their lead when Alexander-Arnold's ball was turned home by Sadio Mane to send the sell-out crowd into raptures.

It went from bad to worse for the Spanish champions, when shortly before half-time referee Danny Makkelie made the bizarre decision to send off Felipe for violent conduct.

Felipe had tripped Mane, but after ignoring Makkelie's calls, the Dutchman decided to hand the defender a red card.

Jota and Suarez both had goals disallowed after the break but in truth, the game was over a contest as soon as Atletico were reduced to ten men.

Liverpool spurned chances as the second half went on, but it counted for nought as the Reds earned all three points to ensure they will top the group.

Here are the talking points from the win at Anfield:

Suarez's miserable return

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Luis Suarez of Atletico Madrid is shown a yellow card by Match Referee, Danny Makkelie following protests against a red card shown to teammate Felipe (obscured) during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on November 03, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said his former team-mate Luis Suarez deserved a good ovation from the Anfield crowd.

However, right from the off it was clear that plea had fallen on deaf ears with the Uruguayan roundly booed as he stood over the kick-off.

It was his antics with Barcelona in 2019 that turned the same fans that used to adore him, into ones that now evidently don't.

In those ties two years ago, Suarez was accused of trying to get players sent off and just minutes into this one, the Kop felt the striker went down easily chasing a through ball.

He was booked for dissent late into the first half and then had a goal disallowed moments before he was withdrawn to more jeers.

After losing 4-0 with Barcelona in his last return, this one was hardly any better.

Statement sent

Liverpool cruised into the Champions League knockout stages

When the draw was made earlier this year, Group B appeared closest to being the dreaded 'group of death'.

Atletico Madrid are always formidable opponents, whilst AC Milan and RB Leipzig are both serious threats on their day.

So to have wrapped up top spot with two games still to spare is a tremendous achievement.

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Four wins from four and Klopp has now been given the valuable commodity of being able to rest players in the final pair of matchdays.

The injury suffered by Roberto Firmino showed just how crucial it will be to rest some of his key stars as they battle for trophies on all fronts.

A striker's dream

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on November 3, 2021 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

If there's a better crosser of the ball in European football than Trent Alexander-Arnold, he is certainly in the top two or three.

The England full-back must be a striker's dream, the ball for the opener was as good as a goal, leaving Jota with the easiest of finishes.

His second for Mane was equally as pinpoint in a first-half display which underlined his credentials as the best full-back in world football.

Atletico's Kieran Trippier was above the Liverpool star when it came to this summer's Euros, with a World Cup just over 12 months ago, that pecking order has to be flipped.

Simeone's resigned look

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Diego Simone Manager of Athletico Madrid during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on November 03, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

For once, the effervescent Diego Simeone cut a fairly resigned and sombre fixture on the touchline.

Gone were the visceral screams and violent arm waving, replaced with a forlorn stare paired with crossed arms.

Much of the talk pre-match surrounded the handshake saga from the clash in the Spanish capital two weeks ago.

This time around, Simeone would even have to accept that his side were outclassed and outgunned, even when it was 11 vs 11.

Makkelie's moment in the spotlight

Danny Makkelie holds the red card aloft after sending Felipe off for violent conduct

The game was arguably already over by the time Danny Makkelie showed Felipe a red card in the closing stages of the first half.

But the fact that pundits, commentators and neutrals took so long to even know what he had been sent off for said it all.

It was subsequently confirmed by UEFA that Luis was dismissed for violent conduct, but to argue that there was any excessive force or brutality would be immensely difficult.

For the ten minutes following that decision, the man in the middle appeared to completely lose the game, throwing out cards on a whim in what was a very strange performance.