Liverpool 1-1 Atletico Madrid (pens 4-5): Jordan Henderson sees crucial spot kick saved as Diego Simeone's side secure Audi Cup triumph in Munich

  • Jordan Henderson missed as Atletico Madrid beat Liverpool 5-4 on penalties in the Audi Cup final in Munich
  • Keidi Bare gave Diego Simeone's side a first-half lead, heading home from close range past Danny Ward 
  • Robert Firmino scored from the spot on 83 minutes after Juanfran was adjudged to have fouled Divock Origi
  • In the shoot out, nine of the 10 penalties were converted, with Henderson the only player to be denied 

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Liverpool's quest to win a second piece of silverware this summer ended in disappointment as they were beaten on penalties by Atletico Madrid.

Having won the Premier League trophy in Hong Kong last month, Jurgen Klopp’s squad were aiming to collect the Audi Cup but it proved a step too far; Jordan Henderson missed Liverpool’s second spot kick in the shootout and that proved decisive as Atleti converted each of their five penalties.

It is the second time Liverpool have lost a penalty shootout under Klopp – the first was the Capital One Cup final against Manchester City in February 2016 – but there will be no lingering disappointment, as this was all part of the preparations for the new campaign.


Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, whose penalty was saved by Miguel Angel Moya, was the only player not to score

Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, whose penalty was saved by Miguel Angel Moya, was the only player not to score

Former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis scored the winning penalty for the La Liga side, who had led until the final 10 minutes

Former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis scored the winning penalty for the La Liga side, who had led until the final 10 minutes

The Liverpool side look on during the shootout, during which Atletico netted all five of their spot kicks to secure victory

The Liverpool side look on during the shootout, during which Atletico netted all five of their spot kicks to secure victory

Keidi Bare (No 27) scored the opening goal of the Allianz Arena clash, heading home following a fine save from Danny Ward

Keidi Bare (No 27) scored the opening goal of the Allianz Arena clash, heading home following a fine save from Danny Ward

Roberto Firmino brought the Reds level from the spot after Divock Origi was adjudged to have been fouled in the box

Roberto Firmino brought the Reds level from the spot after Divock Origi was adjudged to have been fouled in the box

This was not perfect, by any means, but Klopp will have learned some valuable lessons in the 90 minutes and been encouraged by the way a side that was not his strongest kept working to get back into a game that they trailed for almost an hour.

Given the setting, the weather and the pre-match razzamatazz – the ceremony lasted for 10 minutes and involved blaring music and one hundred dancers dressed in red, white and black – you might have thought, had you been brought in blindfolded, this was the Champions League final.

No expense was spared in the show that preceded the entrance of both teams but, once the action started, it quickly became apparent this was a pre-season fixture in which self-preservation was the order of the day after playing twice in 24 hours.

Liverpool had been terrific in the rain the previous evening, running Bayern Munich ragged with speed and ruthlessness on the counterattack. But a similar display against a team organised by Simeone was going to be a tall order, particularly as Klopp made nine alterations.

Origi went down easily, although he was clipped, and Liverpool's Brazilian Firmino made no mistake from the penalty spot

Origi went down easily, although he was clipped, and Liverpool's Brazilian Firmino made no mistake from the penalty spot

Ward falls to the floor in disappointment after his fantastic save came to nothing following Bare's headed goal in Munich

Ward falls to the floor in disappointment after his fantastic save came to nothing following Bare's headed goal in Munich

The Liverpool goalkeeper had little to do in an uneventful first-half, but he was still powerless to stop his side falling behind

The Liverpool goalkeeper had little to do in an uneventful first-half, but he was still powerless to stop his side falling behind

MATCH FACTS FROM THE ALLIANZ ARENA, MUNICH

Liverpool (4-3-3): Ward, Flanagan (Matip, 46), Gomez, Klavan, Milner (Robertson, 46); Can (Henderson, 46), Wijnaldum (Ejaria, 63), Lallana (Grujic, 46); Mane (Firmino, 46), Woodburn (Kent, 46), Solanke (Origi, 63) 

Goals: Firmino (P), 83 

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Moya, Vrsaljko (Savic, 72), Gimenez, Lucas Hernandez, Sergi (Luis, 60); Fernandez (Gabi, 60), Kranevitter (Gaitan, 72), Partey (Juanfran, 72), Bare (Griezmann, 60); Correa (Torres, 72), Vietto (Ndiaye, 72)

Goals: Bare, 33

Penalty shootout:

Liverpool:

Firmino (scored)

Henderson (missed)

Origi (scored)

Kent (scored)

Grujic (scored) 

Atletico:

Griezmann (scored)

Torres (scored)

Gabi (scored)

Gaitan (scored)

Luis (scored) 

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Simeone, a coiled spring of intensity in his technical area who bounced around like a jack-in-the-box, also made a raft of changes and his starting XI was devoid of superstars such as Antoine Greizemann, Jan Oblak, Diego Godin and Saul Niguez. This was a night for some of the squad members to impress.

What followed, though, was a war of attrition. There was no pace to the contest, no atmosphere in the stadium, with many of the crowd having skulked off home after Bayern, the hosts, had suffered a second consecutive defeat, losing 2-0 to Napoli to finish with the wooden spoon.

The lack of tempo led to a lack of chances and in the opening 45 minutes there were only two sightings of goal to merit a mention. Liverpool’s fell to Ben Woodburn but the teenager could not keep an acrobatic volley down after Adam Lallana had picked him out with a deep cross.

Young winger Ben Woodburn attempts an acrobatic finish in the first half at the Allianz Arena before coming off at half-time

Young winger Ben Woodburn attempts an acrobatic finish in the first half at the Allianz Arena before coming off at half-time

Liverpool left-back James Milner battles for possession with Atletico's Thomas Partey during a cagey Audi Cup final in Munich

Liverpool left-back James Milner battles for possession with Atletico's Thomas Partey during a cagey Audi Cup final in Munich

Jurgen Klopp left many of his big names out of his starting line-up including captain Henderson and Philippe Coutinho

Jurgen Klopp left many of his big names out of his starting line-up including captain Henderson and Philippe Coutinho

Much to Klopp’s disappointment, Atleti made their one opening chance count. In the 33rd minute, Sime Vrsalkjo was able to get down the right and cross for Angel Correa. The Argentine forward saw his header brilliantly saved by Danny Ward but Keidi Bare was on hand to convert the rebound.

With so many substitutions being made in the second period, it seemed improbable that Liverpool would find an equaliser but the one thing that impressed after the break was the manner in which they kept playing and the introduction of Firmino and Origi gave them a focus.

What’s more, the longer the game went on, the more you could see Simeone worrying that his team would get pegged back and in the 83rd minute he was left shaking his head when Gabi, his long-standing captain, tripped Origi and the Belgian’s theatrical fall won a spot kick. 

Antoine Griezmann (left) and Daniel Sturridge (right) swapped shirts after the game at the Allianz Arena

Antoine Griezmann (left) and Daniel Sturridge (right) swapped shirts after the game at the Allianz Arena

Griezmann in action during the Audi Cup final as his side went on to win the game courtesy of a penalty shootout

Griezmann in action during the Audi Cup final as his side went on to win the game courtesy of a penalty shootout

Midfielder Emre Can attempts to close down Atletico's Jose Gimenez as Liverpool sought a way back into the game in Munich

Midfielder Emre Can attempts to close down Atletico's Jose Gimenez as Liverpool sought a way back into the game in Munich

Both Can and the Reds dangerman, Sadio Mane, were replaced at the break as Klopp looked to rotate before the new season

Both Can and the Reds dangerman, Sadio Mane, were replaced at the break as Klopp looked to rotate before the new season

Liverpool skipper Henderson was one of six half-time changes for the Premier League side in the Allianz Arena meeting

Liverpool skipper Henderson was one of six half-time changes for the Premier League side in the Allianz Arena meeting

A number of Atleti players tried to put Firmino off but he held his nerve and confidently sent Miguel Moya the wrong way to secure parity and ensure that the Audi Cup would ultimately be decided from 12 yards.

Firmino stepped up to start the shootout and put his effort the opposite side of Moya. Griezemann levelled before Henderson fired his effort to close to Moya; Torres, Origi, Gabi, Ryan Kent, Nico Gaitan and Marko Grujic all swapped successful penalties before Felipe Luis stepped up.

The former Chelsea defender kept his nerve and, in a blaze of tickertape and pyrotechnics and music, Atleti received the prize. Klopp, on the other hand, received some valuable information in terms of his players’ performance and will look to utilise it going forward. 

 

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