Jurgen Klopp's loss to Atletico Madrid 'didn't feel right' as bitter Liverpool swipe taken

Liverpool will renew acquaintances with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday with one victory for the Spanish side leaving a seriously sour taste in Jurgen Klopp's mouth as he took aim at Diego Simeone

Jurgen Klopp couldn't help but admit that Liverpool's defeat to Atletico Madrid five years ago "didn't feel right" as he took aim at the philosophy and tactics employed by Diego Simeone. Fast forward to 2025 and the Argentine hasn't changed.

Simeone's methods don't the 55-year-old himself to everyone, but they remain hugely effective and he's taken Atletico to heights they've rarely seen before. The win at Anfield, just before the Covid pandemic hit, saw the Spanish side down the Premier League giants in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The Reds were many people's tip to conquer Europe, but they couldn't overcome the defensive masterclass produced by Simeone. Atletico headed to Liverpool with a 1-0 advantage from the first-leg and were always going to sit in and invite the Merseysiders onto them.

For much of the game it replicated a training ground exercise of attack vs defence. But it was Atletico, the perceived defensive outfit, who won the game 3-2 after scoring three times in 24 extra-time minutes. Klopp, though, claimed he struggled to accept the result on a moral level.

The former Liverpool boss said at the time: "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 enjoyed 64 percent of the possession and had 35 attempts on goal. Atletico had just 10, many of those coming in extra-time.

The result was the first time Liverpool have failed to progress from a two-legged tie in European competition under Klopp - winning ten in a row before that. It was also Klopp's first loss at home in a European game - and a first defeat at Anfield in Europe since October 2014.

Whilst some hailed the Simeone masterplan, others, Michael Owen among them, laughed off the idea that his defensive approach was anything to rave about. Instead pointing towards an all-dominant Liverpool display that saw Atletico simply pile bodies behind the ball.

He said on social media: "Please spare me all this inevitable Simeone masterclass nonsense. There’s nothing genius about putting 11 top class footballers behind the ball. Liverpool absolutely pumped them throughout."

The two teams will renew their rivalry when they begin their Champions League efforts against each other on Wednesday night at Anfield. Since Atletico's triumphant win in 2020 they have met only once more, with Klopp gaining revenge with a 2-0 success.