The invasion of Ireland may have to be cancelled. Dublin may not hold Jurgen Klopp’s farewell party. The Champions League winner’s reign may not end with a Europa League victory among thousands of Liverpool fans. Instead, the risk is that unassuming but impressive Atalanta will bring their European adventure to an early end next week in Bergamo. A damaging week could turn catastrophic if it costs Liverpool both the Premiership and the Europa League.
They now need a repeat of Klopp’s most famous comeback from a 3-0 defeat against Barcelona but without the advantage of Anfield. During his tenure they won 5-0 at Atalanta in the Champions League, but their worst performance on Merseyside this season brought a first home defeat in more than a year. Real Madrid were the last visiting team to win here until Atalanta pulled off a surprise thanks to Gianluca Scamacca’s double and Mario Pasalic’s strike. Klopp has lost just five European matches at Anfield, but the Italians won two of them.
And for a manager who has expertly taken leave of absence from his squad this season, the realization that his rotation is flawed, that his gamble has backfired, can be demoralizing. The introduction of Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson at half-time was an attempt to repair the damage after each had been rested. He was followed by another substitute, Luis Diaz, but barely a minute later Scamacca scored Atalanta’s second goal. Klopp has managed to field some eclectic teams in Europe this season, but an underdog performed poorly against Atalanta, who are by far the best team they have faced in continental competition since Real.
It was a punishing night for Caoimhin Kelleher, who was at fault for two goals, but the problems extended well beyond him. Liverpool got off to a slow start but although they have spent the season closing gaps, falling behind and increasing the challenge, this is not a safe formula. This time the situation got worse. Wasting, which was a huge problem at Old Trafford on Sunday, undermined Liverpool once again. This isn’t the first time Darwin Nunez has become a particular offender, with a few ugly consequences. Nearly 19 efforts did not result in a goal: only Salah found the net and he was only offside.
Anfield, usually exciting on such occasions, was in what could prove to be Klopp’s final European night on Merseyside. There were no flags on the Kop amid protests over the increase in ticket prices, but Liverpool suddenly started waving flags; Favorites who lose the lead in the Premier League may be eliminated from the Europa League.
That’s how I felt when Pasalic stepped in and made it 3-0 after Kelleher limped away from Marten de Roon’s shot. Szoboszlai had lost the ball and while Liverpool finished a much stronger team than when they started, they were unable to shift the momentum in a game that was so disjointed, so open and so prone to being cut open by Atalanta.
They bought wisely and brought in a number of minor players from the Premier League past. Their £22.5m investment in Scamacca was huge by their standards but it could lead to a European semi-final. West Ham’s rejection caused trouble for Anfield.
He struck first when he met Davide Zappacosta’s cross with a shot for the first time. It was very easy to save, but Kelleher managed to dive over him. As Kelleher shows, Liverpool, who appointed Alisson as their deputy, had reason to be upset by the Brazilian’s absence.
Kelleher’s mistakes were nevertheless compensated for by good saves. There was a great, if unorthodox, stop in the third minute, deflecting Pasalic’s close-range shot with his face; Even though Kelleher knew little about it, the save was still a reward for his reflexes and he threw himself into it. The half-time strike was followed by a terrific block from the influential Teun Koopmeiners. But a hero of the Carabao Cup, responsible for third place, had gone through a traumatic period in the Europa League.
And when Atalanta set Liverpool’s offside trap, Charles De Ketelaere was left helpless as he passed towards Scamacca for his second possession. Like so much else in Klopp’s game plan, the high defensive line failed Liverpool on the night.
Prioritizing the Premier League in their selection did not work well. Kostas Tsimikas had a terrible first half. The other two players taken off at half-time, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones, were responsible for two of Liverpool’s brightest moments at half-time. Jones, making his first start since February, provided a defense-splitting pass but Nunez mistimed his finish. Elliott slotted a Salah-like shot under the bar and then onto the post to give Atalanta a double reprieve.
It was as close as Liverpool came. Salah’s shot was saved after the break, Virgil van Dijk scored twice from a corner and Nunez skied in a shot. Diogo Jota made a comeback but it was Scamacca who was the striker. For Liverpool, Dublin was a dream. Atalanta provided an unwanted reality check.