Jurgen Klopp cut a frustrated figure at Anfield following Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Atalanta in the Europa League. The Reds’ disjointed performance in both defense and attack was capitalized on by goals from Gianluca Scamaca (2) and Mario Pasalic, leaving the Serie A side on the brink of the semi-finals. Klopp expressed surprise at his team’s poor showing and acknowledged that some players had underperformed beyond his expectations. While refusing to rule out a potential comeback, Klopp emphasized that his immediate focus was on Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League match against Crystal Palace.
He admitted that the team needed to improve in several areas to perform better in the next game. Despite facing an uphill battle in the second leg against Atalanta, Klopp asserted that a strong performance could make a difference. Scamacca scored in the 38th minute, followed by another goal in the 60th minute, with Liverpool missing several chances in between. To compound their frustration, Atalanta’s Pasalic scored a third goal towards the end of the match.
Klopp attributed their poor performance to a lack of discipline in possession and a failure to execute their tactical play, leading to one-on-one situations and missed opportunities for counter-pressing. Overall, Liverpool’s disappointing display against Atalanta has left them with a significant challenge in the Europa League, and Klopp emphasized the need for a better recovery and performance in the upcoming matches.