He was a bit like the taxman, taxing Liverpool for many a fifty-fifty tackle and turning a blind eye when balls were being patted in the penalty area. Liverpool were feeling rather aggrieved and the taxman was getting some serious stick. As much as an economy can’t do without taxes, football can’t do without referees. At the very end though, as if an election is looming round the corner he opted for a freebie to Liverpool and looked like getting on a podium to declare rather than a tax-break, a penalty for Liverpool after Steven Gerrard looked to collide with one of their defenders in the penalty area. And the stage was all set for the captain to salvage a draw as he bombed the ball with accuracy, venom and power. He is looking well confident on the penalty spots, he well is. While Liverpool’s penalty shoot-out success has always been second to none, there were times when the award of a penalty during the match was a means to test your heart-rate further. But now Gerrard seems to have acquired another side to his game, and is making Danny Murphy looking rather ordinary in executing penalties, especially at critical times like yesterday.

As expected, Liverpool looked to have started the better side, the highlight of the early minutes of the match being a delightful and accurate pass from Xabi Alonso who from just outside his penalty area he pinpointed Robbie Keane at the other end of the pitch. Keane did well to chest the ball and take on hi marker but rather than the inside he hit the outside of the net. If anything though, it confirmed the rich vein of form the Basque is going through, as he changed defence into attack in a split second and showed his superlative vision of the game. Alonso is one intelligent student of the game, and apart from that he has the feet to support it. He just compromises thought and action with an air of grace and naturality.

The early promise started to fizzle out though and Atletico Madrid took the lead, seven minutes from time of the first forty-five minutes. The reaction was rather muffled but the start of the second half showed an improvement. Gerrard looked to try to inspire the rest of the lads but was getting frustrated and sometimes his touches were rather letting him down and Atletico looked threatening every now and then, while organizing them well to defend their lead.

Keane got substituted by David N’Gog. It might have looked rather bizarre but remembering that in last year’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park with the score level Gerrard was subbed on by Lucas Leiva, it doesn’t look as strange. Deep down though, Rafa might be really losing some of his faith that made him splash out nineteen million Sterling for the same player a few months ago. Keane looked a safe bet to spend money on, a proven goal scoring record and an old head of the surroundings but at the moment it looks like the bookmaker has been smarter than the odds suggested.

Whilst it could be argued they got out of jail, Liverpool arrested a what could be a decline of their morale. With W.B.A. at home next Saturday, it is now time to take no prisoners and just cruise towards a comfortable three points.