Jurgen Klopp’s hope of securing the Europa League trophy in the final few weeks of his Liverpool era have suffered a huge blow – after losing 3-0 at home to Atalanta on Thursday night in a shock result.
A brace from former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca and a tap-in from Marco Pasalic – who has previously been on Chelsea’s books – was enough for Atalanta to spring a massive Anfield surprise.
A stunning result for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, but nothing that they didn’t deserve. The first half saw Klopp’s much-changed side struggle against Atalanta’s very high and energetic press, losing the ball.
Liverpool could not deal with Atalanta’s press in first half
Atalanta scored in the first half, thriving on Liverpool’s woeful ability to break the press. Then, the game changed in the second 45. Atalanta sat back, allowing Liverpool to come on to them – hitting the counter.
They scored two more goals, Scamacca enjoying a wonderful night on the same evening that his old side West Ham suffered a 2-0 defeat to Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen. He pretty much created the third.
Liverpool’s players, even the ones that came on at half-time and in the second half, looked shell-shocked. Bereft of any kind of idea, confidence destroyed. Steve McManaman says only one player was trying.
He claimed, in injury time, that substitute Diogo Jota – who was given the last 15 minutes after returning from injury – was the only Liverpool player trying to make something happen, and reduce the deficit.
What Steve McManaman said about Diogo Jota’s cameo role
“At least he’s in the box, trying to score. Everyone else is on the periphery, hanging back. Diogo Jota, look, he’s the only one in there trying to cause trouble in the six-yard box,” McManaman said, on TNT Sports.
Jota perhaps should have scored when Cody Gakpo floated a cross into the six-yard box, the Portugal star heading over the bar instead of planting one in the back of the net. But he has been out a little while.
His introduction is a huge boost ahead of the run-in, but Liverpool’s 3-0 home defeat is a shock and a surprise. Maybe a kick up the backside when they need it, but just how damning will that kick prove to be.
