In a lackluster performance, Liverpool had a disappointing start to their Europa League quarterfinal, suffering a 3-0 loss to Atalanta in the first leg at Anfield.
Atalanta came close to scoring early on when Mario Pašalić had a chance inside the box, but goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher denied him with a header.
Liverpool had an opportunity to take the lead when Curtis Jones set up Darwin Núñez, but the Uruguayan striker failed to convert his chance.
Atalanta’s man-marking system troubled Liverpool throughout the match, and they eventually broke through in the 38th minute. Davide Zappacosta’s cross found Gianluca Scamacca, and his shot deflected off Kelleher’s hands into the net. Kelleher redeemed himself moments later with a save to prevent a 2-0 deficit at halftime.
Liverpool showed some signs of life in the second half as Mohamed Salah, who came on as a substitute, forced a save from Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso. However, Núñez was unable to make amends for his earlier miss and again missed the target.
Despite Salah having a goal ruled out for offside, Liverpool fell further behind when Scamacca scored his second of the night. Then, Pašalić extended Atalanta’s lead to three goals.
Positives:Cody Gakpo had a positive performance for Liverpool, showcasing one of his best displays in recent weeks. The return of Diogo Jota is also seen as a positive for the team going forward.
Negatives:Liverpool now face a significant challenge in the second leg after a dismal performance. It was one of their worst showings of the season, as Atalanta dominated the match and created numerous scoring opportunities.
Manager rating (out of 10):Jürgen Klopp, 6 – Klopp expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s first-half performance and made immediate changes with a triple substitution at halftime. Although the changes led to some improved chances, the overall performance was disappointing.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best):
GK Caoimhin Kelleher, 5 – Kelleher was let down by the defense but made some important saves. He could have done better for the first goal but prevented a more significant scoreline.
DF Kostas Tsimikas, 4 – Tsimikas struggled defensively and was caught out of position, allowing Atalanta to create dangerous chances. He was substituted at halftime for Andy Robertson.
DF Ibrahima Konaté, 3 – Konaté had difficulties transitioning the ball and struggled to cope with Atalanta’s marking system. He failed to mark Scamacca effectively.
DF Virgil van Dijk, 3 – Van Dijk’s positioning allowed Zappacosta to set up Scamacca for the opening goal. He also appeared to play Scamacca onside for the second goal. Liverpool’s defense lacked organization throughout the match.
DF Joe Gomez, 3 – Gomez and Konaté didn’t seem to have good coordination, leaving gaps in the defense for Atalanta’s second goal. Gomez pushed forward to help in the attack but had some ineffective long-range efforts.
MF Wataru Endo, 5 – Endo struggled to disrupt Atalanta’s play and failed to contribute significantly in transitioning the ball forward.
MF Alexis Mac Allister, 5 – Mac Allister had a decent but relatively quiet performance in midfield, facing difficulties against Atalanta’s setup.
MF Curtis Jones, 6 – Jones, returning from injury, had an important 45 minutes and was unlucky not to provide an assist after a precise pass to Núñez.
FW Cody Gakpo, 8 – Gakpo stood out in Liverpool’s attack and excelled when running with the ball from a central position. He provided intelligent passes, setting up Salah and Núñez in quick succession.
FW Darwin Núñez, 4 – Núñez had a disappointing performance, missing a crucial chance early in the game. He had an opportunity to redeem himself in the second half but failed to hit the target.
FW Harvey Elliott, 6 – Elliott was unlucky with a well-struck effort that hit the crossbar and post. He was substituted at halftime, making way for Salah.
Substitutes: Andy Robertson (Tsimikas, 46′) 6 – Robertson had a positive impact on the left side, linking up well with Gakpo.
Mohamed Salah (Elliott, 46′) 6 – Salah forced a good save from the goalkeeper but had a goal disallowed for offside.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Jones, 46′) 5 – Szoboszlai attempted to stretch Atalanta’s defense with his runs but didn’t have many opportunities in dangerous areas.
Luis Díaz (Núñez, 59′) 5 – DíI apologize, but I don’t have access to live sports updates or real-time information. My training data only goes up until September 2021, so I can’t provide you with the latest updates on Liverpool’s Europa League performance. I recommend checking reliable sports news sources or conducting an internet search to get the most recent information on the match.
