Salah is the first player in Liverpool's history to score in nine consecutive appearances in all competitions

Mohamed Salah continued his superb goalscoring form as Liverpool made it three wins out of three in the group stage of the Champions League as they beat Spanish champions Atletico Madrid in a game of constant drama.

In a frantic, fantastic match in the Spanish capital between sides that were dazzling in attack but vulnerable at the back, the Reds saw an early two-goal lead wiped out by Antoine Griezmann's double.

The France forward was then shown a straight red card early in the second half, allowing the visitors to reassert their authority and snatch a big win through Salah's well-taken penalty, awarded for a clumsy barge on Diogo Jota by Mario Hermoso.

Jota almost turned villain, though, as his challenge on Jose Maria Gimenez resulted in a penalty being awarded - only for the referee to change his mind after being encouraged to view the incident on the pitchside monitor.

Earlier, Salah had given the Reds the lead when his low finish at the end of a weaving run found the net off the toe of James Milner before Naby Keita's brilliant volley doubled it.

Griezmann's neat close-range finish and then superb turn and shot across Alisson restored parity, all before the break.

But the last word went to Salah, who is now Liverpool's record goalscorer in the Champions League - his two goals taking him to 31, one more than Steven Gerrard.

Jurgen Klopp's side are now unbeaten in 21 games in all competitions and continue to provide an attacking threat opponents are rarely able to deal with.

In their last nine matches they have racked up 30 goals and have scored at least three times in all of their seven away games this campaign.

They now top Champions League Group B by an emphatic five points after their most impressive win so far.

It did not however impress Atletico boss Diego Simeone, who spent the game either whipping the home crowd up into a frenzy or berating the officials and then headed off down the tunnel at full time without shaking the hand of Klopp.

Liverpool create more fond memories in Madrid

There is something about Liverpool and the Wanda Metropolitano.

It was on this ground in the Spanish capital that they won Europe's top club prize for the sixth time in 2019 - although that was followed by a 1-0 first-leg loss to Atletico in the stadium the following season that contributed to the end of their trophy defence.

After this remarkable game against Atletico, they now they have another memorable encounter to add to the list.

It is a cliche to suggest a game had everything, but you would be hard pressed to work out what this action-packed and at times controversial match did not showcase.

There were elite forwards providing attacking brilliance, with Salah again giving evidence to back up his manager's claims that he is currently the best player in the world.

His finish owed much to Milner's touch, but the close control and skill to make space for the shot was of the level recently witnessed to a similar end result against Manchester City and Watford.

At the other end, Griezmann was just as ruthless, with his second goal in particular a showcase of his intelligent movement and prowess in front of goal as he left Virgil van Dijk in his wake following fine work by Joao Felix.

There was a long VAR check on the former Barcelona striker's first goal, but the officials must have decided Thomas Lemar did not obstruct Joel Matip after being offside from Koke's initial shot.

The red card that ended Griezmann's game was a debatable one, but his boot was certainly high and while unlikely to be intentionally dangerous it was out of control.

Scattered in among all this drama was some fine goalkeeping from Alisson, who excelled on his return to the side with a string of fine saves, albeit he also almost gifted Atletico a 3-2 lead of their own before the break with a clearance that struck Matip.

Finally, to the penalties - one correctly given, one controversially not.

Hermoso can have no complaints over the decision to punish his clumsy foul on Jota, but the Liverpool forward's light but similar challenge on Gimenez in the box at the other end could easily have cost his side.

The referee's decision to overturn his on-field call reprieved Jota - who had been caught on the wrong side from a free-kick - and helped Liverpool secure a victory that takes them to the brink of the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition.

Player of the match

Mohamed SalahMohamed Salah

Atlético Madrid

Squad number8Player nameGriezmann

Squad number13Player nameOblak

Squad number7Player nameJoão Félix

Squad number21Player nameCarrasco

Squad number23Player nameTrippier

Squad number11Player nameLemar

Squad number6Player nameKoke

Squad number18Player nameFelipe

Squad number4Player nameKondogbia

Squad number5Player namede Paul

Squad number22Player nameHermoso

Squad number2Player nameGiménez

Squad number14Player nameMarcos Llorente

Squad number10Player nameCorrea

Squad number12Player nameRenan Lodi

Squad number9Player nameSuárez

Line-ups

Atl Madrid

Formation 3-1-4-2

13Oblak

18Felipe4Kondogbia22Hermoso

6Koke

23Trippier5de Paul11Lemar21Carrasco

7Sequeira8Griezmann

13Oblak18Felipe4KondogbiaSubstituted forGiménezat 45'minutes22HermosoSubstituted forLlorenteat 80'minutes6Koke23Trippier5de PaulSubstituted forLodi dos Santosat 80'minutes11LemarSubstituted forSuárezat 80'minutesBooked at 90mins21Carrasco7SequeiraSubstituted forCorreaat 80'minutes8GriezmannBooked at 52mins

Substitutes

1Lecomte2Giménez9Suárez10Correa12Lodi dos Santos14Llorente16Herrera19Santos Carneiro Da Cunha24Vrsaljko

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

1Alisson

66Alexander-Arnold32Matip4van Dijk26Robertson

8Keïta14Henderson7Milner

11Salah9Firmino10Mané

1Alisson66Alexander-ArnoldBooked at 63minsSubstituted forGomezat 85'minutes32Matip4van Dijk26Robertson8KeïtaSubstituted forFabinhoat 45'minutes14Henderson7MilnerBooked at 59minsSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 63'minutes11SalahSubstituted forN Williamsat 90+2'minutes9Firmino10ManéSubstituted forJotaat 62'minutes

Substitutes

3Fabinho5Konaté12Gomez13Adrián15Oxlade-Chamberlain18Minamino20Jota21Tsimikas27Origi47Phillips62Kelleher76N WilliamsReferee:Daniel SiebertAttendance:60,725

Live Text

Match ends, Atletico Madrid 2, Liverpool 3.

Second Half ends, Atletico Madrid 2, Liverpool 3.

Attempt missed. Neco Williams (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.

Luis Suárez (Atletico Madrid) is shown the yellow card.

Attempt missed. Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

Diogo Jota (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Felipe (Atletico Madrid).

Substitution, Liverpool. Neco Williams replaces Mohamed Salah.

Fabinho (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid).

Offside, Atletico Madrid. Koke tries a through ball, but Renan Lodi is caught offside.

Substitution, Liverpool. Joseph Gomez replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold.

VAR Decision: No Penalty Atletico Madrid.

Substitution, Atletico Madrid. Luis Suárez replaces Thomas Lemar.

Substitution, Atletico Madrid. Renan Lodi replaces Rodrigo de Paul.