Liverpool’s European hopes hang in the balance after a heavy defeat to Atalanta at Anfield and attention is now turning to this weekend’s Premier League clash against Crystal Palace
Liverpool are still licking their wounds after their heavy Europa League defeat.
The Reds slumped to a dismal 3-0 reverse at the hands of Italian side Atalanta on Thursday evening. Ex-West Ham forward Gianluca Scamacca netted twice on Merseyside, while Mario Pasalic rounded off the scoring.
It leaves Liverpool with plenty to do ahead of the second leg in Bergamo. Before that, they also need to find a way past Crystal Palace this weekend as the Reds attempt to seal the Premier League crown in Jurgen Klopp ’s final season.
Liverpool have been preparing for that game since their clash with Atalanta. Take a look at all of the news to come out of Anfield over the past 24 hours.
Liverpool’s five-goal heroics give Jurgen Klopp hope in bid to win fairytale Treble
Klopp issues flop demands
Liverpool boss Klopp said he hoped his players struggled to sleep and were left “angry” with their miserable loss to Atalanta. Speaking after the game, the German said: “I told the boys ‘take it home’, nobody will sleep great and then we come together.
“On Saturday, we start preparing for Palace. Yes, we have to show a reaction – definitely, 100 percent. And we will show a reaction, I can promise.”
The defeat to the Italian side leaves Liverpool’s hopes of lifting a European crown in Klopp’s final season in real jeopardy. The Reds will take on either Benfica or Marseille should they get past Atalanta.
Will Liverpool beat Crystal Palace this weekend? Share your predictions in the comments below
McManaman’s prediction misses the mark
Former Liverpool star Steve McManaman was left to look a little bit silly having tipped the Reds to beat Atalanta. Speaking in the opening moments of the game, he said: “If Liverpool were in the Champions League, they would be one of the favourites”
McManaman even suggested that the Italian side even looked slow and even overweight. Speaking after the game, he said: “This victory means more to them [Atalanta] of course because last time Liverpool had qualified and changed the team. This time this is against the favourites at Anfield, the favourites who people expected to walk to Dublin.
“And woah! They’ve put a stop to that talk. And do you know what, they haven’t deserved it tonight. Liverpool have been very average. They’ve been amazing this year and all the nice things that have been said about them, but tonight… Wow the wheels have come off.”
Hojlund responds to reverse
Manchester United star Rasmus Hojlund stuck the knife into Liverpool following their defeat. The Dane – who played for the Italians before his move to the Premier League – watched the game.
He then uploaded a picture of the scoreline on Instagram alongside a caption that read: “Mola Mia”, followed by a lion emoji. A local saying in Bergamo, that comment translates to “never give up”.
Hojlund scored ten goals in 34 appearances for Atalanta before joining Manchester United last summer.
