Liverpool vs Atalanta LIVE: Europa League result and reaction as hosts crash to shock 3-0 defeat
The Reds hope to take control of their quarter-final tie when they take on the Serie A side at Anfield.
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool host Atalanta in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie at Anfield this evening. Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour continues with the Reds having dipped into second place in the Premier League following a 2-2 draw with Manchester United at the weekend.
Now, Liverpool are tasked with excelling in Europe’s second competition where they are one of the favourites to win the trophy after a strong group stage. The Reds won four of their six matches and finished top of Group E setting up a round of 16 clash with Sparta Prague.
The Czech side were no match for Klopp’s positive side and slumped to an 11-2 aggregate defeat over the two legs with Liverpool netting six at Anfield back in March. If they can replicate those performances Liverpool have the chance to put one foot in the semi-finals when they take on Atalanta tonight. The Italian side sit in sixth in Serie A having won just two of their last nine games.
Follow all the action from Anfield plus get the latest Europa League odds and tips right here:
Liverpool 0-2 Atalanta
73 mins: Zappacosta wins a throw on the right and Atalanta have a bit of respite. They’re continuing to mainly man-mark in many areas of the pitch, which is an unusual approach. It’s working for the moment though.
The away side win the ball near halfway and its a three-v-three, but Scamacca can’t get the cross away.
Liverpool 0-2 Atalanta
70 mins: Gomez tries a shot from outside the box but it’s wasteful and flies wide.
Liverpool 0-2 Atalanta
69 mins: Scamacca looks nothing like the player who had a difficult spell at West Ham. His latest involvement is to win a duel against Konate, but he’s been excellent all evening.
Liverpool 0-2 Atalanta
68 mins: Another Atalanta half-chance as De Ketelaere can’t get a head to the cross. Gakpo is sent through shortly after but he can’t squeeze the pass through to Salah.
66 mins: Salah is offside from Szoboszlai’s pass, and there’s a collective groan around Anfield. The home side aren’t out of this, or the tie, by any means, but they aren’t playing with their usual belief and conviction as it stands.
Liverpool 0-2 Atalanta
65 mins: Liverpool’s unbeaten home record this season is very much on the line, but if there’s one team who are never out of it in Europe, it’s the home side.
Salah plays a nice reverse pass into the box but Atalanta are alert to it. Liverpool build from the back and Szoboszlai collects down the right, but it’s out for a throw.
Liverpool 0-2 Atalanta
64 mins: Atalanta with another chance! Space opens up for De Ketelaere and he drives into it and lays it off to Koopmeiners.
The Dutchman drags his shot and it goes wide of the far post.
Liverpool 0-2 Atalanta
63 mins: Liverpool look a little shellshocked, and understandably.
Gomez is the latest to give possession away cheaply, and Atalanta win a free-kick near their own box.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-2 Atalanta
60 mins: GOAL! This is surreal – neither the fans nor the scorer can really believe it!
Charles De Ketelaere is played through down the right. He looks up and sees Scamacca is acres of space in the middle of the box. He clips the ball into the Italian, who’s unmarked and half-volleys a lovely finish low and to Kelleher’s right!
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