UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE/ Atletico Madrid 1 Liverpool 1: LIVERPOOL TOOK their lead from Uefa last night and became the second European power to threaten Atletico Madrid with serious punishment only to grant them a reprieve at the last.
Uncharacteristically it was Jamie Carragher who made the mistake that gave Javier Aguirre's side a merited point and cost Liverpool a flawless start in Group D, although on this evidence neither side is in jeopardy of exiting the Champions League at this embryonic stage.
Rafael Benitez was on course for a perfect homecoming in Madrid until Carragher misread a hopeful punt with seven minutes remaining. The former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan seized on the error and set up Simao for an equaliser that Atletico had threatened but Liverpool appeared to have avoided.
It was a dent to pride more than ambition, and before the watching George Gillett, the Liverpool co-owner, Benitez's team maintained their unbeaten start to the season and their grasp on the knock-out phase.
Even without the injured Fernando Torres, whose name still adorned the shirts of many in the home crowd 15 months after their idol's departure for Anfield, the presence of four Spaniards in the Liverpool starting XI and a Madrileno as manager, albeit one of a Real persuasion, lent an air of familiarity and appreciation for the visitors.
It was reciprocated too, with Luis Garcia and Florent Sinama-Pongolle facing their former club for the first time since leaving Liverpool. All told, this was not an occasion to provide a litmus test of the Atletico support after their recent censure by Uefa and the club's enraged response to it.
Liverpool have been at their efficient best in this season's group stage and the contest provided another example of that form.
They followed the message of, unusually for them, getting the job done early by taking a 14th-minute lead. Atletico's greatest concern on the night was not Uefa's slight on their reputation but the hesitancy and weakness of their defence, failings that were in evidence long before Robbie Keane scored. An early cross into the home area from Andrea Dossena caused instant panic for centre-half Alvaro Dominguez and the Atletico defence were sliced open.
Xabi Alonso instigated the move with a ball to Steven Gerrard, who threaded a perfectly weighted pass between Dominguez and Antonio Lopez. Keane collected the delivery in his stride and drove a fine finish low under Leo Franco.
A passionate home support were silenced. Keane almost profited from more defensive uncertainty 60 seconds later as he and Dominguez chased a long ball from Carragher, and should have doubled Liverpool's lead when Gerrard swung another invitation his way from the right wing.
The Atletico response was fitful. Though Ignacio Camacho headed a Simao free-kick over with the game goalless, the Spaniards lacked the tenacity of a Javier Mascherano in midfield and subsequently any space or composure further forward.
The closest they came to an equaliser before the break stemmed from a header from Liverpool right-back Alvaro Arbeloa towards his own goalkeeper. Forlan was just beaten to the loose ball by Jose Reina, who also saw a 20-yard shot fizz past the Liverpool goal as Atletico rallied briefly before the interval.
They could have been chasing a losing cause by then had the referee Claus Bo Larsen awarded a penalty against Antonio Lopez for a trip on Albert Riera. Instead, he correctly booked Liverpool's winger for a dive.
The second half produced a transformation in Atletico and, rampant against Arbeloa on the Liverpool right, they resembled a team with a 100 per cent record in the group prior to this game.
Maniche was deprived of an equaliser when he curled a finish beyond Reina but was wrongly adjudged offside as he collected Forlan's pass into the area. Seconds later Reina tipped a low drive from Simao onto the far post.
Liverpool's accuracy in possession removed the sting from Atletico's recovery for a while and Yossi Benayoun squandered an opening when Alonso and Mascherano fashioned a carbon copy of Keane's goal only for the Israeli to delay his shot. It proved a costly lapse.
• Guardian Service
ATLETICO MADRID: Franco, Seitaridis, Perea, Dominguez, Antonio Lopez, Camacho (Raul Garcia 72), Maniche, Luis Garcia (Aguero 46), Simao, Forlan, Sinama Pongolle (Miguel 75). Subs not used: Bernabe, Pernia, Heitinga, Paulo Assuncao. Booked: Maniche.
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Dossena, Mascherano, Alonso (Leiva Lucas 75), Benayoun, Gerrard (Babel 61), Riera, Keane (Kuyt 53). Subs not used: Cavalieri, Aurelio, Pennant, Darby. Booked: Riera, Arbeloa.
Referee: Claus Bo Larsen(Denmark).
