Liverpool 2-3 Atletico Madrid: 5 reasons why the Reds lost the match | UEFA Champions League 2019-20 

#1 Tactical masterclass from Diego Simeone

Diego Simeone outwitted Jurgen Klopp over two legs

Even though he might not be as highly revered as some of his peers like Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, Diego Simeone has easily been one of the best managers in the world over the last decade.

Coming up against an emphatic side like Liverpool, the 49-year-old recognized his side's limitations and defended deeply in the first leg, with Saul's early goal giving him the impetus to let Liverpool have the ball until the 50-yard line before cutting off their supply lines to their chief attacking threats in Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson.

It was more of the same in the second leg, with the more physical Diego Costa replacing Alvaro Morata and seeing that the former Chelsea man was not giving him what he wanted, he hauled him off 10 minutes into the second half for Marcos Llorente, with Angel Correa and Joao Felix occupying the attacking positions.

Simeone's gameplan was not to concede more than two goals in normal time and to push for a late away goal and despite falling two behind at the start of extra-time, his message of calm to his players was indicative that all was still in order.

Within minutes, his side had turned the tie on its head and while the players deserve praise for playing the game of their lives in front of a raucous Anfield, their manager deserves special credit for coming off with a tactical masterclass to see off the European champions.

The fact that all three goals were scored by players he introduced from the bench acts as further proof of his tactical awareness and he was good value for his victory across both legs.