Liverpool's Europa League hopes are hanging by a thread, with Jurgen Klopp's side falling to a shock 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at Anfield.
After a sluggish start from the hosts, Atalanta took an surprise lead in the game. Gianluca Scamacca was the man to get the goal, with Caoimhín Kelleher allowing the ball to creep underneath his body and into the net.
Gianluca Scamacca puts Atalanta ahead! ⚽️
That's 5⃣ in his last 6⃣ games now! 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK #UEL pic.twitter.com/1LqWDNB7VQ— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 11, 2024
The Irishman won't want to see that one again.
That was only the start. Atalanta would double their lead on the hour mark, with Scamacca grabbing his second of the game.
Mohamed Salah would have a goal ruled out a few minutes later, but outside of that, Liverpool rarely threatened.
The visitors would go on to score the third goal that likely killed the tie off in the 83rd minute, featuring yet more shambolic defending from the English club.
INCREDIBLE! 🤯
Liverpool are 3-0 down at Anfield! 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK #UEL pic.twitter.com/EpWWIRycwj— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 11, 2024
Barring a miracle, it seems that Jurgen Klopp will not have a dream end to his Liverpool tenure in the Europa League final in Dublin.
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Brian Kerr questions Jurgen Klopp approach in Liverpool loss
This was a shocking performance from Liverpool in all areas of the game. Not only were they a shambles at the back, but they looked completely disinterested in attack.
Jurgen Klopp made a number of changes to the side for this match, opting to rest a number of his first choice players for the game. It was clear he regretted that decision, going on to introduce Mohamed Salah, Dominic Szoboszlai, and Andy Robertson as halftime substitutes. However, his changes seemed to make little impact on the match.
Speaking on Virgin Media after the game, Brian Kerr said it was clear that Klopp had completely messed up his approach to this particular fixture.
First of all, he picked the wrong team to try and win the match.
We warned before the match how good Atalanta can be. The team he picked was an indication that he didn't over respect them by playing Tsimikas, Jones, and Elliott in the positions they were in.
Sometimes it can be too late when you change the team. That's what happened, he changed the team and the subs made no impact in the game...
I think there was a lack of energy around the Liverpool team, there was a bit of casualness. Sometimes when you don't pick the best team, the players who are the best players feel maybe this isn't as important as usual and they're slightly off.
Maybe the ones that come into the team aren't good enough to grasp the challenge that is there for them. They weren't good enough tonight, they were outplayed by the opposition...
Klopp will know he probably made a mistake in terms of selection. Whether he underestimated Atalanta or whether he's trying to protect some of the players to keep them going in the league, they're only behind on goal difference in the league. That has to be the priority above everything.
Maybe getting the team selection wrong tonight, it might help in terms of the performance on the weekend. There will be annoyance and frustration.
While it looks likely that their Europa League hopes are now over, Liverpool will have to quickly dust themselves down ahead of a busy few weeks ahead. They will face Crystal Palace in the Premier League this weekend, currently sitting second in the division behind Arsenal on goal difference.
With their European ambitions set to come to an end, the league will represent their only chance of adding some more silverware ahead of Jurgen Klopp's departure at the end of the season.
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