Atletico Madrid took an early lead in the Champions League against Liverpool through Saul. He bagged in the fourth minute as the Reds made a hash of a corner kick.
MORE: (Video) LFC concede messy goal inside four minutes against Atletico Madrid
It obviously wasn’t an ideal start for the reigning Champions of Europe, but being in losing position wasn’t the biggest cause for discussion among fans on social media.
Atletico players were diving all over the place, and we’re not shy about saying that. They were shamelessly over-exaggerating absolutely everything.
The Premier League isn’t renowned for its hardy nature, but compared to what the La Liga club showed us of Spanish football, maybe it should have that reputation!
The game really could do without the theatrics and playacting – trying to get other team’s players booked is a form of dark arts and is simply just bad sportsmanship.
Liverpool fans took to Twitter in their hundreds to complain about what they were seeing, one going as far as to call Atletico players “playacting cheats” and an “absolute disgrace”, and we are in agreement with a lot of what’s been said.
Here are some of our favourite Tweets about Atleti tonight:
Atletico are a bunch of playacting cheats. Absolute disgrace.
— Samuel (@SamueILFC) February 18, 2020
Atletico look quite capable so why they have to cheat and dive I don’t know. Wait…who’s their coach again?
— Sinden Chump (@SindenChump) February 18, 2020
Win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat… The Atletico Madrid way…
— winger (@WINGWIZARD) February 18, 2020
Half the fucking atletico team should be booked for diving
— Bruno (@TAASZN) February 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/happydobbin44/status/1229869079227441154
https://twitter.com/Luke_Mim/status/1229877806307430400
Atletico 24% possession, diving all over the place, crying about nothing, just putting 10 men behind the ball and have the refs in their pocket.
Sooner managers like Simeone fuck off out the game the better.
— FSG OUT (@ShaunlfcT) February 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/shxn_mx/status/1229878103817818112