Atletico Madrid have won the Audi Cup after beating Liverpool 5-4 on penalties in Germany.
The Spaniards took the lead in the first half through Keidi Bare, but the Reds levelling things up late on through Roberto Firmino's penalty kick.
With the scoreline at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the match went to penalties and it was a miss from Liverpool's Jordan Henderson that proved decisive.
Find out how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the Audi Cup final between Atletico Madrid and Liverpool at the Allianz Arena. Both sides will be looking to add some silverware to their pre-season campaigns and they have each named strong XIs. Here comes the team news...
ATLETICO XI: Moya; Vrsaljko, Gimenez, Lucas, Sergi; Kranevitter, Augusto, Thomas, Keidi; Correa, Vietto
LIVERPOOL XI: Ward; Flanagan, Gomez, Klavan, Milner; Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana; Woodburn, Mane, Solanke
So, it's sweeping changes for Liverpool, with manager Jurgen Klopp retaining only Sadio Mane and Emre Can from yesterday's impressive 3-0 win over German champions Bayern Munich.
It's a youthful Reds setup, with prospects Jon Flanagan, Joe Gomez, Ben Woodburn and Dominic Solanke all starting, but it isn't one lacking in quality or firepower.
Klopp starts with a three pronged attack, with Woodburn and Solanke feeding off the ever-creative Mane. Don't expect the latter to play the full 90 minutes, though. He put in a hard shift against Bayern yesterday.
Atletico have taken a similar approach, resting players including Torres and Griezmann, both of whom start on the bench. Argentinian youngster Luciano Vietto starts up top, but the Spaniards have experience in their side via the likes of Moya in goal and Gimenez at the back.
Liverpool booked their place in the final, as we've already mentioned, with a 3-0 win over Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. Mane, Salah and Sturridge did the damage last night, but the latter of the trio suffered a injury scare during the game and is rested tonight.
Sturridge has since downplayed the injury, putting it down to "just a little bit of tension kicking off". Sounds like his absence tonight is purely precautionary.
Atletico made tougher work of their path to the final, falling behind against Napoli before goals from Torres and Vietto toppled the Italians. It's sweeping changes for them tonight - an entirely fresh XI.
Along with Sturridge, there are a number of other key Liverpool players who miss out entirely tonight - Philippe Coutinho, Mo Salah, Alberto Moreno and Dejan Lovren - but they are rested, rather than injured.
I'm personally looking forward to seeing what Solanke, a summer signing from Chelsea, can do this evening. He's been impressive all pre-season and will be looking to jump at the chance he's been handed here.
Milner is also one to watch as he now faces heightened competition for the left-back slot following the summer signing of Scotland international Andrew Robertson from Hull City.
It's a hot and humid evening in Germany and kickoff is just minutes away. Klopp will be hoping from more of the same from his Liverpool side, but perhaps the most important aspect of the game is giving some of his youngsters a run-out against quality opposition.
Here are the scenes in the stands just moments before kickoff...
Almost time! ⚽
Watch the #AudiCup final live: https://t.co/WjdzgTxjOd pic.twitter.com/yMNtuFibHx — Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 2, 2017
KICKOFF! Liverpool get the match underway, kicking from right to left in the first half. Stay with us for minute-by-minute updates as their bid for pre-season silverware begins.
Atletico win a throw-in deep in the Liverpool half. Vrsaljko takes it and hurls it long into the Reds' penalty area, but the attack breaks down as the referee blows for a foul against the Spaniards.
There's a let off for Liverpool as Gomez plays a short clearance straight to the feet of Correa, but his response is equally poor. He fails to keep hold of the ball, allowing the Reds defence to recover and clear their lines. Both sides are showing sloppiness in the opening stages.
Vietto attempts to play a through-ball fast and low, straight through the middle, but Klavan anticipates the pass and makes the interception. The Reds attempt to stage a counter of their own, but the move fizzles out.
CHANCE! Liverpool claim the first attempt at goal and it's a glancing header from Solanke, which drops just wide of the far post. Woodburn played a dangerous cross into the box where the youngster was lurking with intent. His positioning was spot on, but his header off target.
The Reds have improved these past few minutes. Atletico had them on the back foot to begin with, but they've found their passing rhythm now and have started creating chances.
CHANCE! It's another attempt at goal from Liverpool and this one comes about following good play by Lallana. He plays a deft cross into the box towards Woodburn near the back post. The youngster goes for acrobatics, but puts his volley wide under pressure from his marker.
It's total football from Liverpool tonight. They're defending from the front and sitting high. Woodburn and Solanke look dangerous, while Wijnaldum is seeing plenty of the ball in the engine room.
BOOKING! Mane picks up a yellow card and it's as soft a one as you'll ever see. He tangles with Hernandez and there's a bit of handbags during the tussle, resulting in the Liverpool man raising a hand to his opponent's face.
ANOTHER BOOKING! It's two yellows in as many minutes for Liverpool as Milner goes into the book for dragging Thomas to the ground. This one isn't as soft as Mane's caution, but needless nonetheless.
Vrsaljko has been Atletico's most dangerous player tonight and he's just caused Liverpool a few problems. He found space wide on the right and played a low pass towards the centre of goal, which is met by an interception and clearance from Gomez.
It's been a largely subdued match here at the Allianz Arena, but the crowd are obviously enjoying themselves. A Mexican wave has just swept through the stadium.
There's a half chance for Liverpool as Mane gets half a yard on his marker and swings a cheeky cross into the box towards Can. The German international swipes at it, going for a volley, but mis-kicks, allowing Atletico to clear the danger.
GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Keidi Bare)
Atletico take the lead, capitalising on some slack defending from Liverpool. Correa's initial effort is met by a superb reaction stop from Ward in the Reds goal, who tips it onto the bar, but none who his teammates took the initiative to clear the rebound and Keidi Bare is there to tap it home.
Bare, a largely untested Albanian youngster, is the difference between the sides right now. He showed good instincts to tuck that rebound away, but Ward in the Liverpool goal was let down by his defence.
How have Liverpool responded to falling behind? Not especially well. They haven't pressed their opponents since Bare struck and are starting to look restless.
There's some dogged defending from Atletico to keep the Reds at bay, but Liverpool are squaring up to them and putting in some strong tackles of their own. Gomez becomes the latest Red to go into the book for a late challenge amid all of the scrapping and scraping.
HALF TIME: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool
So there you have it. Liverpool are trailing to Atletico Madrid at the halfway point of the Audi Cup courtesy of this goal from Bare...
GOAL! @Atleti have the lead following a great stop from Danny Ward - watch LIVE on ITV4 pic.twitter.com/4ZypRgncYX — ITV Football (@itvfootball) August 2, 2017
It's been a fairly even contest, although the Reds created the better chances before falling behind. There's also been a hard edge to their play - they've had three players find their way into the book already.
Lots of changes for Liverpool at the break, with Milner, Mane, Lallana, Can, Flanagan and Woodburn making way for Firmino, Henderson, Grujic, Robertson, Matip and Kent. Looks like Atletico will be sticking with the same XI.
KICKOFF! Atletico get the match back underway. How will this new-look Liverpool fare in the second period? Stay tuned to find out.
CHANCE! Henderson picks out Solanke with a neat long ball and the youngster's first touch is superb. He turns in the area and lets fly, but Lucas does well to make himself big and take the sting out of the strike. He can't prevent the corner, though... nor can Liverpool do anything with it.
Those fresh pairs of legs have injected some extra pace and sharpness into the Liverpool side. They're coming forward at a good quip now and keeping Atletico on the back foot.
Robertson offers a hint at what he'll be bringing to this Liverpool side by holding his ground under pressure from Vrsaljko. Gimenez pinged a long ball towards his teammate, but the Scot preempted it and didn't give Vrsaljko an inch.
Good defending at the other end from Thomas keeps Firmino at bay. The Brazilian attempted to collect a loose pass but hesitated te, allowing the Atletico man to race back and dispossess him from behind. Good awareness there.
Atletico left-back Sergi is booked for a late tackle on Kent, and it's a real stinger. He could have injured the youngster if he'd gone in any later. Kent looks in some discomfort but should be okay to continue.
Good counter-attacking football from Liverpool, who break through Gomez along the right channel. He plays a cross into the six-yard box, but it's too close to Moya, who confidently claims the ball.
Atletico have made some changes and they've thrown on the big guns - Antoine Griezmann, Felipe Luis and Gabi. Sergi, Augusto and Keidi are the ones to make way.
Half-chance for Liverpool as Robertson plays in a dangerous cross from the left. The ball canons off Gimenez and almost ends up in his own net. The referee awards Liverpool a corner, but Atletico clear it.
Two more changes for Liverpool as Solanke and Wijnaldum make way for Origi and Ejaria. Meanwhile, Klaven has been booked for a late challenge.
Lots of Liverpool possession and pressure, but they aren't really doing much with the ball. Atletico are sitting deep and the Reds are struggling to combat this tactic, a recurrent problem at Anfield last season.
Matip plays a long ball foward and Firmino meets it with a clever nod-on. Origi attempts to take it on the volley, but he's put off by his marker and fails to connect. Great build-up play from Liverpool, but the end product simply wasn't there.
Liverpool appeal for a penalty in the wake of that Origi chance. The Belgian claims his marker had hold of his arm, but the replay shows there was little contact there. Just 20 minutes remaining for the Reds to get themselves level. They're dictating play now, but have nowt to show for it.
A slew of additional subs from Atletico now, and among them is this man... Torres takes to the field against his former club.
73: Multiple substitutions for @Atleti, including the introduction of @Torres...
[0-1]
📺 https://t.co/WjdzgTxjOd pic.twitter.com/PBFY6TDenv — Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 2, 2017
SHOT! There's a decent chance for Liverpool to level the match as Origi gains possession in the box. He turns well to get himself a sight at goal, but his effort tears into the side-netting. A rare, clear-cut chance in this second half.
The Reds' possession has been impressive, but they've had only three shots on goal since Atletico took the lead, and two of them were blocked. Tenacious defending from the Spaniards, but I get the feeling Liverpool could break them down if they stay up in their faces.
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!
Origi gains possession in front of goal and Gabi takes him out with a powerful challenge. There was contact there, the referee making the right call...
GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-1 Liverpool (Roberto Firmino, pen)
It's an ice-cool penalty from Firmino, who sends Moya in the Atletico goal the wrong way, shooting low to the right. We're on level terms now and if it stays that way after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout will decide the Audi Cup.
Atletico threaten via a late corner, which pinballs around in the box before Stefan Savic takes a swipe at it, blazing the ball over the bar from close range. Three minutes until that shootout!
CHANCE! Liverpool almost snatch it as the death, with Robertson surging forward and pulling the trigger first time, his effort bobbling just wide of Moya's far post. That will be the last chance of the game...
FULL TIME: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Liverpool - PENALTIES TO DECIDE THE AUDI CUP
Firmino's penalty levelled up the match in the second half, and now the Audi Cup will be decided by spot kicks. The Reds deserved their equaliser, but can they hold their nerve and secure pre-season silverware?
Firmino smashes his penalty straight down the middle.
Griezmann sends Ward the wrong way and places his strike into the bottom corner.
Henderson's penalty is saved. Moya makes a good stop with his legs!
Torres holds his nerve, shooting low down the middle to fire Atletico in front.
Origi makes it two out of three to Liverpool, shooting into the corner. Moya guesses right but can't reach it.
Gabi maintains his side's advantage by beating Ward at full stretch.
Kent boldly steps up and thumps his penalty home!
Gaitan thumps one into the roof of the net. Matchpoint Atletico!
Grujic keeps the Reds in it... just.
Filipe Luis takes his time with his run up before smashing the ball beyond Ward to win the Audi Cup for Atleti!
ATLETICO MARDID BEAT LIVERPOOL 5-4 ON PENS TO WIN THE AUDI CUP
So there you have it, Atletico's pre-season is graced with silverware following their penalty-shootout victory over Liverpool in the Audi Cup final. Bare gave the Spaniards the lead in the first period, but Firmino levelled things up with 10 minutes remaining to force the shootout.
It was a cagey match for lengthy spells, but the shootout drama livened up the evening for everyone involved. Some of the Reds' youngsters looked impressive enough tonight and Jurgen Klopp can be pleased with his side's pre-season thus far.
And that's all we have time for here. Many thanks for joining Sports Mole for the Audi Cup final and be sure to check back regularly for more live commentaries from all of the biggest matches.
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
