by Perhaps the invasion of Ireland would have to be called off. Dublin may not throw Jurgen Klopp a farewell party after all. The Champions League winner’s reign in Europa League glory may not end among thousands of Liverpool fans. The risk instead is that Atalanta will, unexpectedly but spectacularly, bring their European odyssey to a premature end in Bergamo next week. A bad week could prove disastrous if it costs Liverpool the Premier League and the Europa League.
They now need a replay of Klopp’s most famous defeat, 3-0 against Barcelona, but to no advantage at Anfield. They have beaten Atalanta 5-0 in the Champions League in his tenure but their worst performance on Merseyside this season was their first home defeat in over a year. Real Madrid were the last visitors to win here so far, thanks to a double courtesy of Gianluca Scamacca and Mario Pasalic’s tap-in, Atalanta surprised him. Klopp has lost just five European games at Anfield but two of them have come against the Italian super-achievers.
And for a manager who has expertly departed from his squad this season, there is perhaps the depressing realization that his rotation was wrong, that his gamble paid off. The sight of Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson at half-time was an attempt to repair the damage after each was rested. Luis Diaz, another substitute, followed, but barely a minute later Scamacca scored Atalanta’s second. Klopp has been able to play some eclectic sides in Europe this season, but against Atalanta, the best side they have faced in the continental competition since Real, a weakened team put in a poor display.
It was a difficult night for Caoimhin Kelleher, who was at fault for two goals, but the issues went much further than that. Liverpool have made a slow start but while they have spent the season recovering from deficits, falling behind and fighting back, it is not a foolproof formula. On this occasion, it got worse. And relegation, such a problem at Old Trafford on Sunday, once again undermined Liverpool. Not for the first time, Darwin Nunez was a particular culprit, with a few hideous finishes. No goals came out of 19 attempts: Salah only found the net and only when he was onside.
Anfield, often electric on such occasions, proved to be Klopp’s final European night on Merseyside. There were no flags in the Kop, in the midst of a protest over the price increase on tickets, but, suddenly, Liverpool are on the scene; after winning the Premier League, the favorites could be knocked out of the Europa League.
It felt that way when Pasalic headed in after Kelleher’s limp parry from Marten de Roon’s shot to make it 3-0. Szoboszlai had lost the ball and although Liverpool finished with a much stronger side than they started, they were unable to change the momentum in a game where they were too disjointed, too open, too likely to they would be cut open at the side of the Atalanta incision.
They bought wisely, acquiring many part-time players from the Premier League’s past. Their investment of £ 22.5m Scamacca was a lot by their standards, but it could bring the European semi-final. West Ham deny being the cause of the Anfield scourge.
He struck first when he headed home Davide Zappacosta’s cross with a first-time shot. He was very safe but Kelleher tried to dive on him. A substitute fined Alisson as Kelleher proved, Liverpool had reasons for the Brazilian’s absence.
However, Kelleher’s errors were offset by fine saves. There was a brilliant, if unorthodox, stop in the third minute, deflecting Pasalic’s close-range shot wide with his face; if Kelleher knew little about it, saving was still the reward for his reflexes, throwing himself in the way. There was a great block from the Teun Koopmeiners that had an impact at half time. But when he was guilty of third place, the Carabao Cup hero had a traumatic time in the Europa League.
And he was helpless when Atalanta broke Liverpool’s upside trap, Charles De Ketelaere crossing for Scamacca to find a slot in his second. The high defensive line failed, like many others about Klopp’s game, Liverpool on the night.
Prioritizing the Premier League in his selection almost didn’t work. Kostas Tsimikas had a miserable first half. The other two who were taken out at the break, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones, were responsible for Liverpool’s two brightest moments before the break. Jones, making his first start since February, delivered a defense-splitting pass, but Nunez failed to miss his finish. Elliott curled a Salah-esque shot against first the underside of the bar and then the post, giving Atalanta double compensation.
It was as close as Liverpool came. After the break, Salah saved a shot, Virgil van Dijk had two chances from corners and Nunez skied a shot. Diogo Jota came back but it was Scamacca who went on to star. For Liverpool, Dublin was the dream. Atalanta provided the unwanted reality check.
