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Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta: Was this Jurgen Klopp's last European night at Anfield?

By Neil JohnstonBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Liverpoolcomments1884

Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta: We deserved to lose - Klopp

Liverpool's hopes of giving Jurgen Klopp a dream send-off in the Europa League final in Dublin next month are hanging by a thread.

The Reds boss has announced he is leaving the club at the end of the season and his players were keen to extend the season to 22 May when the final of Europe's second-tier competition takes place.

A shock 3-0 home defeat by Atalanta in the quarter-final first leg means that looks an unlikely scenario as it stands.

Klopp, who has steered Liverpool to three Champions League finals - winning it in 2019 - looked bewildered at the final whistle and applauded fans as he disappeared down the tunnel.

But was this his final European game at Anfield after Liverpool suffered their first home defeat since losing 5-2 to Real Madrid in the Champions League in February 2023, ending their 33-game unbeaten run?

'Players looked really alone in a lot of moments'

Atalanta's Isak Hien celebrates at the final whistle after his team beat Liverpool at Anfield in the Europa League
This was the joint-heaviest defeat Liverpool have had at home in major European competition alongside a 3-0 defeat in October 2014 and 5-2 defeat in February 2023, both against Real Madrid

Liverpool's performance was littered with bad mistakes and poor marking as they suffered their joint-heaviest defeat at home in major European competition, both previously coming against Real Madrid.

Atalanta, who sit sixth in the Serie A table and are 32 points behind leaders Inter Milan, took full advantage with a ruthless display - and will be strong favourites to progress to the semi-finals when the sides meet for next Thursday's second leg in Italy.

"They were arguably the worst I have ever seen them [under Klopp]," said former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Liverpool were poor. Wasteful in possession, so many mistakes all over the pitch."

Klopp offered no excuses for what he hopes is a blip rather than anything more worrying, with Liverpool second in the Premier League table, level on 71 points with leaders Arsenal, but behind on goal difference.

"That was a bad performance and that's how it is," the German told TNT Sports.

"A lot of performances tonight were really 'oops, wow, I didn't know they could play like that'. A lot of the players looked really alone in a lot of moments. It was really bad."

Liverpool's Luis Diaz reacts after his side's defeat to Atlanta in the Europa League
Atalanta are just the second side to win on successive visits to Liverpool in major European competition after Barcelona in March 2007

'Wheels have come off' for tired Reds

Liverpool have little time to recover from this setback.

The games are coming thick and fast with Crystal Palace, who are 14th in the Premier League table, at Anfield on Sunday (14:00 BST).

Then the Reds are off to Italy to try to salvage their Europa League ambitions, before three successive away Premier League games inside a week against Fulham, Everton and West Ham.

"So many mistakes all over the pitch but Liverpool looked tired," added Warnock.

"They looked like a team that has played 56 games in a season and you could just see tired minds and tired bodies."

Former Reds winger Steve McManaman said the "wheels had come off" against Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta, whose goals came from Gianluca Scamacca's double and Mario Pasalic's late close-range finish.

On Sunday, the Reds dropped two points after being held to a 2-2 draw at Manchester United following a catalogue of missed chances.

Against Atalanta, Liverpool's defending came under fire as the visitors made it look easy at Anfield.

"Liverpool have been amazing this year but tonight, wow, the wheels have come off and all the substitutions haven't made an impact like they have this year," added McManaman.

'Things will never be the same again' - Can Liverpool thrive after Klopp?

Can Liverpool turn tie around?

Liverpool, of course, have history of turning around first-leg deficits in European competition and Klopp and his players will still believe they can rescue the situation.

"Can we win it back? Yes," said Klopp. "If we play good it is possible. Can we win 3-0? I have no idea.

Reds captain Virgil van Dijk said it was important not to over-react.

"If you don't believe, there's no point going to Italy," added the Netherlands defender.

"We have made it very hard for ourselves going there 3-0 down. But the way to bounce back is by winning the game on the weekend.

"We need everyone to switch it back on. Then we can focus on putting out at least four goals over there."

Former Liverpool forward Peter Crouch admitted the Reds faced a difficult task in Bergamo.

He said: "If anyone can turn it around it's them, but the third is really difficult for them."

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1884 comments

  • Comment posted by Sinhealer, at 00:07 12 Apr

    That's what happens when you take a game for granted!
    Came out thinking they just had to show up, made 3 subs at half-time but by then they were chasing the game and leaving more and more gaps at the back.
    Play your strongest 11 and worry about the next game after this game, Klopp was doing the reverse and already thinking about the next game and ignored this game!

    • Reply posted by Mermz, at 00:32 12 Apr

      Mermz replied:
      bang on. although I was surprised to hear Atalanta have won one in their last 10 or so in Serie A. still, full of top talent. taking Endo off was the nail in the coffin

  • Comment posted by Spencer Venison-Smyth, at 23:55 11 Apr

    Got to blame Klopp for that tonight

    Terrible team selection, to make 6 changes in such a big game was criminal and very disrespectful towards Atalanta.

    • Reply posted by Dead Brain, at 23:57 11 Apr

      Dead Brain replied:
      It's not a big game. It's a second rate competition only good for CL qualification with Liverpool already have.

  • Comment posted by Realitycheck, at 00:00 12 Apr

    Lose on Sunday and the season is over for them

    • Reply posted by Robbo, at 00:25 12 Apr

      Robbo replied:
      Fingers crossed

  • Comment posted by Scotzman, at 00:10 12 Apr

    Let's face it Atalanta are up there with the greatest ever teams in European football. Oh wait a minute!!! :O A few weeks ago it was "Let's do the quadruple for Kloppies last season". How's that looking now. Sorry can't stop laughing. Ha ha ha ha :D

    • Reply posted by Erl of Manchester, at 00:25 12 Apr

      Erl of Manchester replied:
      The quad has lost two wheels now.

      Will end up with only what they used to call tinpot.

  • Comment posted by JBG, at 00:09 12 Apr

    At this rate they'll have an open-top bus parade if they win the toss against Palace at the weekend.

  • Comment posted by Max Whiplash, at 00:05 12 Apr

    I'm a Man Utd fan but I have to say the players really let Klopp down tonight. The man's a legend of the club, and of the Premier League, and he deserves better in his final season.

    I get that their injury situation is a mitigating circumstance that now seems to be catching up with them but mitigating circumstances don't win trophies.

    • Reply posted by EarthWatch, at 00:13 12 Apr

      EarthWatch replied:
      Liverpool is better off exiting the competition. Increases their probability of winning the Premiership title to 98%. Just a football fan.

  • Comment posted by bluemonday, at 01:21 12 Apr

    are they the only tired side then BBC? This Liverpool luvvie behaviour is appalling. Fact is they were outplayed

  • Comment posted by Alex Mufti, at 00:00 12 Apr

    This has been coming. We haven’t played well for a while but been winning.

    Too many changes. I still can’t understand why we played such a strong team in 2nd leg against Sparta

    • Reply posted by eric, at 00:12 12 Apr

      eric replied:
      Cancel your hotel, you ain’t going to Dublin

  • Comment posted by Valjester84, at 00:07 12 Apr

    Hardly surprising with the side Klopp put out. Put your best players out, for God's sake. They earn enough.

    • Reply posted by alyred, at 03:10 12 Apr

      alyred replied:
      Arrogance - to sum it all in one word!

  • Comment posted by Jen, at 23:53 11 Apr

    Tired?

    Oh dear.

    • Reply posted by Blue Billion Pound Bottle Jobs, at 01:21 12 Apr

      Blue Billion Pound Bottle Jobs replied:
      Liverpool were tired.
      Atalanta were hungry.

      The final result proved this to be true.

  • Comment posted by xmpwdjqp, at 03:40 12 Apr

    If they mess up against Palace on Sunday, Liverpool's famous club anthem, "You'll never walk alone ", is to be replaced by Whitney Houston's , " Didn't we almost have it all".

    • Reply posted by Name, at 07:11 12 Apr

      Name replied:
      I wonder if we'll see Klopp laughing and clapping and praising the opposition like he does when they win. No? He'll just be sour faced and gurning. Oh well

  • Comment posted by neil moxon, at 05:26 12 Apr

    Well I wasn't expecting to get up this morning and see that score line but I work with a Liverpool supporter who is so biased and cock sure of Liverpool so it's hilarious 😂

    • Reply posted by Andinsecondplace, at 07:59 12 Apr

      Andinsecondplace replied:
      And I bet he’s not from there

  • Comment posted by Cash from chaos, at 23:57 11 Apr

    Total klopp out . Embarrassment. Ha ha

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 00:58 12 Apr

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      Worst Liverpool performance this century if not longer than that.

  • Comment posted by andyelsa, at 00:02 12 Apr

    Villa 7 Liverpool 2 ?

    • Reply posted by D1, at 00:08 12 Apr

      D1 replied:
      European

  • Comment posted by Fan Of Whoever Plays Man Utd, at 00:55 12 Apr

    Easily Liverpool’s worst ever performance under Klopp, by a clear margin.
    The players looked totally lost out there and had no desire to even give any resemble of a football professional.
    It truly felt like Atalanta were playing an English Conference League North team and the final result reflected this.

    • Reply posted by kriticboss, at 06:28 12 Apr

      kriticboss replied:
      Villa 7 Poo 2

  • Comment posted by HahaWeWon, at 05:55 12 Apr

    Another one of those famous European night under the lights at Anfield 😂 #don'tbelievethehype

    • Reply posted by DomQuixote, at 06:06 12 Apr

      DomQuixote replied:
      It was a dreadful performance by the team and the crowd. Ironically, because of the reputation and the history of Liverpool in Europe at Anfield - as you note, there have been a few unforgettable triumphs over the years, most recently Dortmund and Barcelona - it probably will be one of the more famous ones, just for all the wrong reasons.

  • Comment posted by bridgeboy, at 00:22 12 Apr

    Oh dear, very quiet on Merseyside tonight isn't it !

    • Reply posted by Ann, at 21:13 12 Apr

      Ann replied:
      Not on the blur side I don't think 😆

  • Comment posted by Brian Nicholson, at 00:22 12 Apr

    We’re just double checking this result. Result checked! Lmao

    • Reply posted by mark, at 01:23 12 Apr

      mark replied:
      Not had many laughs as a blue lately. But thanks Bergamo

  • Comment posted by Phil, at 06:49 12 Apr

    Liverpool have been getting away with it all season. Very often teams have got in front but never had the the ambition or ability to finish them off. Last night finally one team stood up and did it. Probably helped by having an impartial referee and VAR for once.

    • Reply posted by seymour, at 06:51 12 Apr

      seymour replied:
      We’re all tired of the cheating

  • Comment posted by Leanne, at 01:35 12 Apr

    The nation seems to be a happier place this morning after Liverpool's 6th defeat of the season.

    #93:20 #Treble

    • Reply posted by Timefiller, at 10:45 12 Apr

      Timefiller replied:
      We are so much happier when financial dopers keep winning. #115

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