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Liverpool’s hopes of advancing to the Champions League round of 16 early were dashed when Jurgen Klopp’s bet fell through in a 2-0 loss at home to Atalanta.
The Reds boss made five changes from Sunday’s win over Leicester, including modifying three of his four defenses, and paid for it with a lack of cohesion and pace that allowed last season’s quarter-finalists to become the first team to win at Anfield in 90 minutes. from Chelsea in September 2018.
Even Mohamed Salah’s return after his positive Covid-19 test could not bring the team out of its slumber, nor help it generate a shot on goal in 90 minutes, as second-half goals from Josip Ilicic and Robin Gosens they ensured there was no option for Klopp to rest the players in their last two games.
Winning over Ajax next week would still guarantee a safe pass and with the December schedule Klopp will want to avoid the nightmare scenario of having something to play on with the final game against Midtjylland.
The introduction of Williams’ defenders Neco and Rhys meant that, including Curtis Jones, Liverpool were the first team to name three British teenagers in a starting Champions League lineup since Arsenal against Olympiacos in nearly 11 years. .
Three of Liverpool’s four defenders had just 23 first-team appearances between them, so there was an understandable reluctance to fly off the blocks as they adjusted to their new surroundings.
But that played into the hands of Atalanta and Papu Gómez had a significant influence on the proceedings.
Liverpool played as if they were a team stepping on the water and waiting for the cavalry of the second half and enraged Klopp, who on more than one occasion yelled at forward Divock Origi for his lack of movement and Kostas Tsimikas, making only his second start since Lincoln in the Carabao Cup, for his positioning.
The fact that they reached the half-time goalless was due in large part to Alisson Becker’s strong save on the post near Gosens’ shot and referee Carlos Grande seeing Ilicic’s obvious attempt to win a penalty when he was touched by the Liverpool’s left back.
Salah’s shot a minute before the break was the only effort by the hosts and it reached the Anfield Road End.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Klopp had seen enough and called for reinforcements, sending Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmimo, Fabinho and Andy Robertson.
But with the quartet standing on the sidelines waiting to enter, Atalanta took the lead as Ilicic delivered Gomez’s center inward.
They barely had time to make their presence felt before the visitors’ lead was doubled with an unmarked Gosens and Hans Hateboer header almost exactly three years into the day since scoring at Stanley Park against Everton.
Online editors
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