by If this was Jurgen Klopp’s last European night at Anfield as Liverpool manager, it was not to be.
After nearly nine years in charge, Klopp has been able to enjoy some of the most famous nights of continental football at this venue including Roma, Borussia Dortmund and, of course, a certain 4-0 win over Barcelona in the semi-final of the Serie A. Champions. Five years ago.
Liverpool may have to summon the spirit of May 2019 again as they need something similarly Herculean next week as they chase another three-goal haul with no chance.
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The good news is that Klopp’s men scored five times the last time Atalanta hosted them four years ago, but that could be a thin joke for those looking for crumbs of comfort right now.
This horror show was a stark contrast to the aforementioned performances where the Reds suffered a shocking 3-0 defeat to leave their Europa League hopes hanging by a thread.
A big part of Liverpool’s impressive arsenal is the ability to run past opponents with their extra reserves of speed and power. But they hit their stride here against a well-drilled and physical Atalanta side and paid no attention to their opponents, the venue or the story that ended Klopp’s spell as manager with a Dublin final that was , for many, covering this European campaign ever since. he announced his decision to step down in January.
And full credit must be given to Gian Piero Gasperini and his players, whose success in 2020 here in the Champions League left no doubt about the nature behind closed doors of pandemic football. The Serie A side were worthy winners and are now five without reply in their last two visits here. Who else can boast that?
In the first half Darwin Nunez should have done better with a couple of chances when his attempted finish from Curtis Jones was deflected wide and Harvey Elliott was unlucky not to open the scoring with a superb effort both sides kissed. the bar and post before bouncing out.
Liverpool were made to pay for a mediocre first 45 minutes by this time when Gianluca Scamacca finished a low ball into the box for a goal that caused questions for Kevin Kelleher, who, in fairness, had taken exception. saved earlier in the game to keep out Mario Pasalic.
Clearly fed up with the lack of first-half performance, Klopp sent on Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson for the second period as Jones, Elliott and Kostas Tsimikas made way.
It led to a handful of chances for the likes of Nunez, Salah and Virgil van Dijk but never felt like anything lasting came of it and Gasperini’s men maintained their threat. Former West Ham United attacker Scamacca expertly finished Liverpool’s cross down the left for 2-0 and Luis Diaz was sent on for Nunez before Diogo Jota returned.
Despite a side packed with firepower, however, it was the Italians who struck next, as Pasalic tapped home after Kelleher had made an initial save. That was the impression of the Atalanta bench that must be beaten onto the pitch in pursuit of their fans at the Anfield Road end. And who could blame them? Scores of Liverpool fans surged forward in response and it was hard to criticize that decision either.
After protesting a rise in ticket prices with the decision to leave the flags at home, supporters voted with their feet after the third went in.
Perhaps, in the cold light of the day, there is some merit to the theory that this is a Liverpool team getting out of shape at the wrong time. After fighting bravely for months, an injury-hit squad looks set to take on a team whose reserves had been depleted for so long before the international break.
There is good news in that opposition at least with Jota and Jones now back and Trent-Alexander Arnold and Stefan Bajcetic part of the substitutes’ bench here but none of that will come after Atalanta’s celebrations in front of Anfield Road. make it easier. at full time.
The lack of flags on the Kop, in a statement against the recent 2% increase in ticket prices, at least made sure there were no white ones for anyone to wave here because everything to Liverpool next week and another memorable fight. is required. The question is, do the players have the energy levels they need?
The length of the Irish sea has suddenly become a gulf and Dublin has never seemed so far away.
