Brian Kerr feels that Liverpool "lost heart" during the second half of their 1-0 victory over Atalanta on Thursday, a result that wasn't enough to keep them in the Europa League.
Atalanta's 3-0 win at Anfield last Thursday left Liverpool in need a big result in Bergamo, but a first-half Mo Salah penalty ended up being only goal of the game
Fans had hoped to see a repeat of the famous Champions League comeback against Barcelona in 2019 but Jurgen Klopp's side weren't able to muster it against a resolute Atalanta defence.
Speaking on Virgin Media Sport, Brian Kerr said that Liverpool "lost heart," which will be disappointing to hear for fans who had hoped to see Klopp depart in a blaze of glory this summer, with multiple trophies in his hands.
"They threatened in the first half and a miss by Salah was a key moment," said Kerr.
"If they got two goals back before half-time, it may have been a different second half but Liverpool lost heart in the second half when they were making no headway and the long ball wasn't working."
🗣 "Liverpool weren't able to muster a charge because the opposition were too good."
🗣 "I don't know another team in modern football who does that."
🗣 "Liverpool lost heart in the second half."
Brian Kerr's immediate thoughts as Liverpool exit the UEFA Europa League. #UEL pic.twitter.com/fllcBcHQa0— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) April 18, 2024
It's all going wrong for Liverpool
That assessment will leave Liverpool fans to wonder where it's been going wrong in recent weeks, during what was supposed to be a golden goodbye period for Klopp.
When he announced in January that he will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season, it was all set up for a quadruple charge that would culminate in the Europa League final at a packed Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
After picking up the first of those four trophies in the form of the Carabao Cup, Liverpool have now crashed out of the FA Cup and the Europa League, while falling off the pace in the Premier League.
Anfield itself has felt quiet in recent weeks, and it makes you wonder why the never-say-die spirit that Klopp built appears to have deserted him in his final weeks at the club.
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