Jan Oblak compared to Lionel Messi after top class performance to help knock Liverpool out Champions League
Diego Simeone has compared Jan Oblak to Lionel Messi, lauding the impact of Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper after the Spaniards knocked Liverpool out the Champions League.
The LaLiga giants secured a 3-2 win over the Reds on Wednesday to inflict a first European home defeat on Jurgen Klopp’s side since October 2014, a 3-0 loss to Real Madrid.
Georginio Wijnaldum’s goal forced the round-of-16 tie to extra time, before Roberto Firmino doubled the hosts’ lead.
However, Marcos Llorente’s double and Alvaro Morata’s late strike ensured Atletico progressed to the quarter-finals at the reigning European champions' expense.
Oblak, who is considered one of the world’s best goalkeepers, saved efforts from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold at Anfield.
He was widely lauded throughout and after the match, and his contribution did not go unnoticed by Atletico boss Simeone.
The Argentine said: “He stopped every situation he had today but we also made it hard for their strikers to shoot.
"He saves games for us. Messi wins games for you up front and in goal people can win games for you as well. Oblak does that.
"Our fans will remember this and his performance for a long time."
Meanwhile, Klopp refused to blame Adrian for Atletico's first goal on the night and their second of the tie, which swung the encounter in their favour.
Adrian, who was filling in for the injured Alisson, scuffed his clearance as Joao Felix passed to substitute Llorente, who fired past the Spaniard in the seventh minute of extra time.
Klopp said: “He's a man and he knows that's how it is. We will not blame him for a second - what you [the media] do, I don't know, but stay respectful, that would be really nice.
"He did not want to do that, he saved us in so many moments when he played. Since he's here, he had super performances.
"This goal didn't help tonight but that's how it is. I said, if you lose a game you always lose for some [different] reasons."