Jota put Liverpool ahead with his sixth goal of the seasonLiverpool swept into the last 16 of the Champions League with a comfortable win over 10-man Atletico Madrid that ensured they will finish top of Group B.
Early goals by Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane, both created by Trent Alexander-Arnold, put the Reds in full command and there was no way back for the Spanish side once Felipe was sent off before half-time.
Jurgen Klopp's side should have dished out more punishment after the break but missed a flurry of chances and Jota had another strike ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee.
Atletico thought they had pulled a goal back from a deflected shot by former Reds striker Luis Suarez, but that too was chalked off for offside by VAR and they never seriously threatened a comeback.
The win extends Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season to 16 games and, in total, they have not tasted defeat for 25 matches, dating back to 6 April when they lost to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of last season's Champions League.
Alexander-Arnold again provides the assists
Recent meetings between these two sides have been somewhat spiky, reflected by the mood inside Anfield right from the start, and this game did not lack controversy either.
With their fans providing a raucous backdrop, Liverpool took around 10 minutes to find their feet but then tore into Atletico and began creating chances.
Alexander-Arnold put the first goal on a plate for Jota with a delicious whipped delivery and although it was unclear whether he meant a shot or a cross for his side's second, the end result was the same thanks to Mane's alertness at the near post.
Those two goals proved enough to secure the points, with the game effectively ended as contest when Dutch referee Danny Makkelie decided that Felipe's swipe at Mane's heels was enough for a straight red card.
The home crowd did not get the deluge of goals they wanted in the second half but they did get to boo Suarez's every touch until he was substituted soon after his goal was disallowed.
When Atletico last came to Anfield, in March 2020, the nation was about to go into lockdown because of Covid-19, and Liverpool went out of the Champions League in the last 16 after a 4-3 aggregate defeat.
Almost 20 months on, Coronavirus continues to cast a shadow over football - only 200 Atletico fans made the trip because of fears over the Delta variant - but Liverpool's current form suggests their latest European adventure is only just beginning.
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
1Alisson
66Alexander-Arnold32Matip4van Dijk21Tsimikas
14Henderson3Fabinho15Oxlade-Chamberlain
11Salah20Jota10Mané
1Alisson66Alexander-ArnoldSubstituted forPhillipsat 90+4'minutes32MatipBooked at 90mins4van Dijk21Tsimikas14Henderson3FabinhoSubstituted forThiago Alcántaraat 60'minutes15Oxlade-ChamberlainSubstituted forMinaminoat 78'minutes11Salah20JotaBooked at 85mins10ManéBooked at 15minsSubstituted forFirminoat 45'minutesSubstituted forOrigiat 78'minutesSubstitutes
5Konaté6Thiago Alcántara9Firmino13Adrián18Minamino26Robertson27Origi47Phillips62Kelleher76N Williams80MortonAtl Madrid
Formation 3-4-2-1
13Oblak
18Felipe2Giménez22Hermoso
23Trippier6Koke5de Paul21Carrasco
10Correa7Sequeira
9Suárez
13Oblak18FelipeBooked at 36mins2Giménez22HermosoBooked at 8mins23Trippier6KokeBooked at 38minsSubstituted forSantos Carneiro Da Cunhaat 69'minutes5de Paul21CarrascoSubstituted forVrsaljkoat 69'minutes10CorreaSubstituted forSerranoat 75'minutes7SequeiraBooked at 52minsSubstituted forLodi dos Santosat 59'minutes9SuárezBooked at 38minsSubstituted forHerreraat 59'minutesSubstitutes
1Lecomte12Lodi dos Santos16Herrera19Santos Carneiro Da Cunha24Vrsaljko26Serrano33Iturbe36Martín38González VerjaraLive Text
Match ends, Liverpool 2, Atletico Madrid 0.
Second Half ends, Liverpool 2, Atletico Madrid 0.
Attempt missed. Divock Origi (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Diogo Jota.
Substitution, Liverpool. Nathaniel Phillips replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Attempt missed. Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Joel Matip (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Joel Matip (Liverpool).
Matheus Cunha (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Mario Hermoso (Atletico Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high following a set piece situation.
Foul by Divock Origi (Liverpool).
Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Takumi Minamino (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid).
Attempt saved. Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt blocked. Divock Origi (Liverpool) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold with a cross.
Diogo Jota (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for dangerous play.
Dangerous play by Diogo Jota (Liverpool).
Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Divock Origi (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Thiago with a cross.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
