Jurgen Klopp called Thursday’s 3-0 home defeat to Atalanta a “low point” in Liverpool’s season as their Europa League hopes were left hanging by a thread.
Liverpool looked flat throughout the quarter-final first leg and ended the night perhaps fortunate Atalanta had not taken one of the many late chances they had to add to a lead given to them by Gianluca Scamacca’s brace and a late Mario Pasalic goal.
Harvey Elliott hit the post in the first half and Mo Salah had a goal ruled out for offside in the second, but Liverpool lacked the spark needed to beat a well-organised Atalanta side, who will be confident of finishing the job next Thursday in Bergamo.
Before Klopp can think about that match, he must lift his players for Sunday’s visit of Crystal Palace in the tight battle at the top of the Premier League table.
“It was a really bad game, oh my God,” Klopp said after Liverpool’s first home defeat in nearly 14 months.
“We started well, really well and then didn’t continue. They broke, they scored and we just lost the plot a little bit. We were here and there in midfield, I didn’t recognise it.
“It was really strange but in football terms it was tactical discipline. There was a big chance for Darwin (Nunez) and then it was unlucky with Harvey, but they scored and we kept playing into their hands.
“We played a bad game and we we deserved to lose. We must feel that now but we have exactly this night to feel bad about it and then we have to build up for Palace.”
Klopp made six changes to his side following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United, but his bid to freshen up the side failed, and their chances of ending the German’s reign with a showpiece final in Dublin have taken a huge hit.
“I believe it’s not the moment to talk about that,” Klopp said when asked if the tie was still alive. “I’m not in the mood to think about the game in a week’s time when we have another in between.
“Definitely we have to try, we want to win the game but now is not the moment to have a big mouth. We have to play a really good game.
“Where we are, this is probably a low point for us performance-wise so it should be possible to play a little bit better and we can play a lot better. But first and foremost it’s about Sunday now.”
The final whistle brought huge celebrations for Atalanta and their travelling fans. Gian Piero Gasperini said he wanted to enjoy the moment, but warned the job is only half done.
“Tonight was amazing,” he said through a translator. “I didn’t make any changes until 10 minutes to go and the only one change because it is hard to touch something about a team that held until the 90th minute in the best way.
“Such a victory, it’s OK to celebrate but we all know we ill have to conquer everything in seven days’ time in Bergamo because Liverpool is a really strong team and they can score goals quickly.
“We will have to play another very precise game in every aspect and repeat tonight’s game because everything remains to be played. But our advantage makes us hope for the best.”
Liverpool are set to part ways with Darwin Nunez this summer, and the Uruguay striker could be set for a move to Spain, where he previously played with Almeria. And despite interest from a number of clubs, including Serie A leaders Napoli, the likelihood is that La Liga is his most likely destination.Nunez is keen to leave Anfield this summer having had a difficult season under Arne Slot. Liverpoo...
LIVERPOOL icon Steven Gerrard could be poised to make a return to Rangers, according to reports.Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson left the club following Saturday's match against Hibernian.The 47-year-old took over on a temporary basis following the dismissal of Philippe Clement in February.Rangers are now on the hunt for a permanent successor.And the Daily Mail has claimed that Gerrard is on...
Jeremie Frimpong completes first part of Liverpool medicalLiverpool have not taken long to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold as the Reds are on the verge of completing the transfer of Jeremie Frimpong.Multiple reports have now suggested that the Reds have reached an agreement with Die Werkself over the €35 million (£29.4m/$39m) transfer of the 24-year-old Dutch international. Additionally,...
Liverpool have made Milos Kerkez their next top transfer target after already doing much of the work on the Jeremie Frimpong deal, CaughtOffside understands.The Reds have already held some talks over signing the Bournemouth left-back, who has also been the subject of strong interest from Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid.Sources close to the situation have informed CaughtOffside that Bourne...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. How to find players for Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea Chelsea 1-0 Man UtdAston Villa 2-0 TottenhamBest Friend Forever Friday in the Premier League: 16th-place Man Utd and 17th-place Spurs both lose The Europa League final though How many Premier League games have Spurs lost this season? Watch more live shows in the B/R app Everyone predicted that Real Madrid w...
Federico Chiesa has endured a tough first season at Liverpool and could be set to leave the club this summer.Federico Chiesa does not have a single Premier League start to his nameArne Slot has urged Federico Chiesa to return to Liverpool in top shape after the summer break to secure a future at Anfield. After joining Liverpool in a £12million deal last August, Chiesa has only started three m...
Jeremie Frimpong is winning on and off the pitch according to fans.Bayer Leverkusen's full-back extraordinaire might just be the Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement Liverpool fans have prayed for this summer, as the Premier League champions look to strengthen Arne Slot's table toppers.And if the 24-year-old Dutch defender does rock up on the banks of the River Mersey, he will be doing so alongside ...
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim and striker Rasmus Højlund: two people with uncertain futures next season. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)BILBAO, Spain -- Tottenham Hotspur have won their first trophy since 2008 after beating Manchester United 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League final on a tight and tense night in Bilbao.The game was decided by a scruffy goal from Brenn...
Alejandro Garnacho seemed visibly annoyed after being relegated to the bench for Manchester United's Europa League final showdown with Tottenham.Manager Ruben Amorim decided to leave the Argentine winger out of his starting XI, and the player was noticeably late in joining his fellow subs for the pre-match warm-up. Garnacho spent a good 15 minutes on the pitch, still suited up, having a chat with ...
Ruben Amorim spoke out about his future (Image: Getty)Ruben Amorim has offered to forgo any copensation he would be owed if Manchester United bosses decide to sack him this summer. The Red Devils lost the Europa League final 1-0 against Tottenham on Wednesday night.A trophyless season, coupled with United's 16th-place in the Premier League table, has left huge question marks hanging over Amorim's ...
- 1 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 2 Mikel Arteta ready to give his life to deliver silverware for Arsenal
- 3 Man City withdraw and Liverpool could steal
- 4 Chelsea beat Manchester United in FA Cup final to seal domestic treble
- 5 Mikel Arteta apologises for failing to deliver Arsenal a Premier League title
- 6 Liverpool cleared to complete signing
- 7 Marc Guehi to land transfer to Real or Barca
- 8 Real Madrid agree deal for Dean Huijsen
- 9 Dele Alli’s girlfriend Cindy sets pulses racing in barely
- 10 3 EPL giants have advantage in Osimhen race