While Jurgen Klopp refused to blame Adrian for Liverpool's UEFA Champions League exit, a former Reds star feels the blame does lies with the goalkeeper.
The Reds were leading 2-0 in extra-time and 2-1 on aggregate before Adrian's error led to Marcos Llorente's first goal.
The Spanish shot-stopper has also been criticised for his position on Llorente's second goal minutes later and former Reds defender Steve Nicol feels the Premier League leaders would have progressed had Adrian not committed the errors.
"Do you know what? If anybody ever questions why you spend £65 million on a goalkeeper, you just saw it," Nicol told ESPN.
"Liverpool were 2-0 up in the tie in extra-time. They're through, if they don't lose a goal, they're through.
"So yes, they could have finished it off earlier, but the fact is they lost the game because of the goalie.
"They're through at 2-0, we keep going back to the same thing, they're through at 2-0.
"Without the goalkeeper giving the first goal away, Liverpool go through.
"Atletico Madrid, other than the first minute of the game, never looked like scoring, never got near the goal, absolutely nowhere near it, complete and utter dominance, complete and utter total control [but] because one guy then gets involved and makes a mess of it, that's why they're out.
"You cannot look at it any other way. We can complain about missed chances - the fact is they were through with a clean sheet and the goalkeeper for the second time in three years has blown it for them."
