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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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’s catalogue of errors could leave Jurgen Klopp without European farewell
The invasion of Ireland may have to be called off. Dublin may not stage Jurgen Klopp’s farewell party after all. A Champions League winner’s reign may not end in Europa League glory amid thousands of Liverpoolfans. The risk instead is that Atalanta, unfancied but impressive, bring his European odyssey to a premature end in Bergamo next week. A damaging week may take on disastrous proportions if it costs Liverpool both the Premier and the Europa Leagues.
They now need a repeat of Klopp’s most famous comeback, from 3-0 down against Barcelona, but without the advantage of Anfield. They have won 5-0 at Atalanta in the Champions League in his tenure but their worst performance on Merseyside this season brought a first home defeat in over a year. Real Madrid were the last visitors to win here until, courtesy of Gianluca Scamacca’s double and Mario Pasalic’s tap-in, Atalanta sprang a surprise. Klopp has only lost five European games at Anfield but two have been to the Italian overachievers.
Read Richard Jolly’s match report below.
Liverpool’s catalogue of errors could leave Jurgen Klopp without European farewell
Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta: The Reds stand on the brink of their European journey coming to a premature end
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta
So Jurgen Klopp and Virgil van Dijk acknowledge that Liverpool face a huge uphill battle to get through to the semi-finals. They certainly do if they perform like that again.
The Reds travel to Italy a week today for the second leg, with kick-off at 8pm on 18 April.
Before that though, they have to keep themselves in the title race by picking up three points at home to Crystal Palace. That game kicks off on Sunday, 14 April at 2pm.
Liverpool fans will be hoping for another dramatic European night for their side, and even though the Reds won’t have the advantage of Anfgield this time round, you wouldn’t necessarily bet against them.
It’s fine margins for Jurgen Klopp’s side as he looks for another major piece of silverware in his final season.
Klopp speaks to TNT
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is next to come in front of the cameras.
He’s asked if he’s had time to gather his thoughts, to which he replies that he has “nothing really positive to stay”.
“It became a really bad game. We were everywhere, which means nowhere, no counterpress, we played into their hands.
“It was a bad game for us and Atalanta played a good game”.
He’s asked if Liverpool can put it down to a one-off.
“It’s too early for that. I will watch on Monday, but I know already if we do a couple things better it’ll be better.
“Can we win 3-0, I have no idea. Theres nothing to say, that was a bad performance, that’s why we lost.
“We have to show a reaction on Sunday, and I’m pretty sure we can do that.”
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta
Virgil van Dijk is first to speak to TNT.
When asked what happened, the captain says that being 3-0 down “is not great”.
“Very disappointing evening of course, too many inidivual mistakes, and we got punished. It was bad.”
He adds that Atalanta’s man-marking system made it difficult, and that “they won 50/50 challenges most of the time and the spaces were open”.
“That’s what happens, a very disappointing night but we can’t dwell on it too long. From tomorrow, we have to switch it back on.
“It’s a collective thing, and we have to do much better. We have to react pretty quickly.”
When asked if Liverpool can take some belief from winning 5-0 away to Atalanta in the past, the Dutchman says that “if you don’t have belief then there’s no point going to Italy”.
“But we focus on Crystal Palace, we have to bounce back, and only way to do it is by winning the weekend.”
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta
Liverpool will wonder what happened in that game. They had some great opportunities early on but then faltered, conceded and never got back into it.
Attentions will have to turn back to the Premier League briefly, with the Reds hosting Crystal Palace on Sunday before the second leg happening on 18 April.
For the away side, they host Verona before the return leg.
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta
FULL-TIME! The whistle goes and the only noise at a bewildered Anfield is that of the Atalanta fans.
The Reds fall to a 3-0 defeat, and their first at Anfield in 33 games. Atalanta played brilliantly at times – notably Scamacca, De Ketelaere and Koopmeiners in attack – but Liverpool will feel like they handed it to them a little.
Klopp’s changes didn’t work in the first half and the rhythm was off when the subs came on. It was just one of those days for Liverpool though – they won’t feel a need to panic of course.
There’ll be thoughts of repeating the turnaround from 3-0 against Barcelona in 2019, and the fans will still believe.
Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta
92 mins: There’s a bit of pinball fro the corner and Atalanta clear. Szoboszlai clips a ball across to Jota, but Diaz can’t do anything after receiving it. Atalanta clear.
Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta
91 mins: What a night for Atalanta. Looks like their fans can barely believe it. Neither can Jurgen Klopp by the looks of things.
Diaz wins a corner after cutting in from the left.
90 mins: Gomez slips it through to Szoboszlai, who’s made the overlapping run, but the Hungarian’s shot is right at Musso. Right afterwards, Gakpo clips in a ball to Jota, and the portuguese gets a head to it but it’s just a little high for him, and the header goes wide.
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