KLOPP’S FLOPS
Shot- shy Reds record their worst European defeat at Anfield since 2014
LIVERPOOL blew their chance to secure early qualification from the group stage as they crashed to a first defeat inside 90 minutes at Anfield for 26 months.
Two second- half goals in four minutes, from Josip Ilicic and Robin Gosens gave Atalanta a deserved victory as Liverpool paid a heavy price for mothballing some of their heavy artillery.
With his side in such a strong position in Group D, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had one eye on the trip to Brighton on Saturday in the 12.30pm Premier League slot he detests.
But maybe the ease with which the English champions had dealt with all their injuries this season lulled him into a false sense of security.
Every squad has a point at which it can no longer cope with losing players without the output suffering and Liverpool reached theirs last night, having voluntarily chosen to start without Roberto Firmino, Andy Robertson, Fabinho and Diogo Jota.
It took Liverpool 44 minutes to have an attempt on goal, which in the Klopp era must be some kind of record. Mo Salah, back but anonymous after coronavirus, drilled the chance just over the bar.
It was Atalanta – beaten 5- 0 by Klopp’s team in Italy three weeks ago – who were comfortably the more dangerous.
German wing- back Gosens tested Alisson at his near post with a stinging left- foot drive and the outstanding Argentine Papu Gomez also had a decent opportunity but pulled his shot wide. The Italian side dominated possession and opened up Liverpool again in the 27th minute through Ilicic but Gosens’ touch let him down in the area.
An animated Klopp, who had described his side as an orchestra ahead of the game, went into full conductor mode in his technical area, ranting at his front three.
Meanwhile James Milner, deployed in the centre of midfield, was doing the same to the defence but to little effect from his disjointed troops.
There was a lot to admire about the visitors, although not the theatrical dive in the Liverpool penalty area from Ilicic after the faintest of touches from Georginio Wijnaldum.
But the Slovenian showed his classier side with a neat finish from
Gomez’s lovely cross to put Atalanta 1- 0 up on the hour.
Klopp immediately made a quadruple substitution, bringing on all four of his benched big guns. Yet four minutes later the night went from bad to worse.
Gomez again provided the delivery for unmarked left wingback Hans Hateboer to head back across goal for Gosens to finish.
Defeat is unlikely to be terminal for Liverpool, who still top the group, but it was a timely reminder that even their resources are not bottomless.