It was a dirty win, but that didn’t matter to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
And it didn’t matter too much to him that dastardly Diego Simeone dodged a handshake at the final whistle but now we could have a classic clash at Anfield in two weeks.
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The Reds went into the Wanda Metropolitano, grabbed a 3-2 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid, despite some wobbles, and got out relatively unscathed.
Roberto Firmino, though, may well be nursing a sore head after Antoine Griezmann’s high-kick, which earned the Frenchman his red card after 52 minutes.
The Spanish side were furious at the final whistle having seen a penalty overturned as they hunted a leveller, despite being down to 10 men.
And that certainly contributed to Simeone’s dash down the tunnel when time was called on a thrilling affair in Madrid.
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“It was a tough game. How you win it I couldn’t care less,” Klopp told BT Sport. “The dirty ones are really important. When we are flying we win the game any way.
“It was the tough game we expected. We did surprisingly well early on and scored two wonderful goals, played really good football.
“Atletico are not bothered about having possession and we gifted the first goal, we could defend that better.
“The second goal was nice but our gaps were not just right.
“At 2-2 and people thought this game goes only in one direction but we played a solid second half, got a penalty, then the red card and then it is in our favour.”
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The rivalry between Klopp and Simeone was simmering gently before kick-off as the German insisted he hadn’t been critical of Atletico’s style of play back in 2020 after their infamous Anfield Champions League defeat.
But a dramatic match ensued as the two sides faced each other in Spain and it boiled over in the second half.
Simeone, who revelled in his side coming back from 2-0 down to make the scoreline 2-2 before half-time, was angered by Griezmann’s red card and then the decision to overturn a penalty given to his side.
The result was him launching down the tunnel, leaving Klopp hanging – but the German didn’t seem to care.
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“I wanted to shake his hand, he didn’t,” the Reds boss told BT Sport.
“His reaction was like mine (at Anfield in 2020) not too good.
“When I see him next time we will shake hands. He was obviously angry, not with me but the game, the world. It’s nothing.”
But Simeone’s action did draw disapporoval from two former footballers.
Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch said: “I respect Simeone so much as a manager but not shaking hands at the end – he lets himself down.”
While Joleon Lescott added: “It’s a bit cowardly in my opinion.”
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But one thing is for certain, it’s set up another feisty encounter in two weeks time.
Atletico, desperate for revenge and three points, will travel to Anfield with Liverpool top of Group B as they battle to qualify for the knockout stages ahead of Porto.
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