Liverpool became Atletico Madrid's latest Champions League victims on Tuesday evening as Diego Simeone masterminded a quintessential European display in front of a vociferous Wanda Metropolitano crowd.

Organised with military-like precision, Simeone's troops executed a familiar plan to condemn the visitors to only their third defeat of the season in all competitions.

As a defensive unit the Rojiblancos were frighteningly unbreakable.

Stefan Savic and Felipe were resolute in central defence and their collective display played a major role in preventing Liverpool from registering a single shot on target on the night.

Equally, there was another all-action display just in front of the defensive duo that was impossible to ignore.

Playing with the panache of a panther and the brawn of a bulldog, Thomas Partey put in the type of display which compels onlookers to draw for the Rolls-Royce card.

The 26-year-old midfielder was slick and sophisticated with every graceful step across the Madrid turf.

When the ball spilled loose he seemed to draw the ball into his path with magnetic like accuracy. When Atletico had the ball in wide areas he was always an available, reliable option to help manoeuvre the ball.

That, together with Saul, he managed to silence a midfield trio who are typically rampant in the Premier League - regardless of the personnel - speaks volumes about the magnitude of this individual performance.

Such was the quality on display, it is perhaps little surprise that the Ghana international was on a list of potential Liverpool targets in 2018, per Goal. Michael Edwards, the club's Sporting Director, and the rest of the decision makers eventually opted for Fabinho.

A wise decision no doubt; one outstanding performance from Partey certainly doesn't suggest the Reds should have signed him instead. However, the fact he was identified as a potential option underlines the genius behind Edwards' strategy in 2018.

On Tuesday night, Atletico's deep-lying playmaker put in a display akin to that which we've come to expect from Fabinho when he's at the top of his game.

A return of five tackles attests to his defensive solidity while his ability to blend that with deep-lying creativity is certainly something that Liverpool's Brazilian enforcer typically provides from the anchor role.

Though he is valued at £45m by Transfermarkt, Partey's latest display suggests he could command a fee well in excess of the £43.7m that was needed to lure Fabinho away from Monaco two summers ago.

A test under the Anfield lights awaits for Partey in three weeks time and that clash will undoubtedly provide a more acute measure of his mettle and ability to perform on the grand stage.

However, for now at least, Tuesday night's display will serve as a reminder of the meticulous detail that goes into the carving of Edwards' transfer strategy.

He had clearly identified an elite quality option to fill a specific role in Liverpool's midfield, and that can only be a reassuring, prescient sign for the supporters as Jurgen Klopp bids to cement the club's dominance both domestically and in Europe.