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It’s not often that they lose at home in the Champions League and ignore the consequences, but Liverpool know that their 2-0 loss to Atalanta at Anfield is no reason to start looking for the panic button.
Even if the Premier League champions lose again next week when Ajax comes to town, a draw in their last Group D match against FC Midtjylland, who have lost all four group matches so far, will be enough to take Jurgen Klopp’s team to the round of 16. But while there will be no sleepless nights in Liverpool after this loss, notably the toughest home loss in Klopp’s five-year reign as Reds coach, it will serve as a warning of what could happen later in this season. competition.
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Simply put, you can make changes and get away with it in the Premier League, but against high-quality opponents in Europe, there is always the danger that they will punish even the slightest weakness, especially self-inflicted deficiencies.
“It was not a good game,” Klopp said. “Both teams didn’t create much until they scored the goals, but it was a deserved loss in a tough match.
“We had moments, but no real opportunities. It could happen to other teams.”
Klopp knew all the permutations before selecting a much-changed starting eleven against an Atalanta side that were beaten 5-0 by Liverpool in Bergamo earlier this month. Having won their first three games in the group, the 2019 Champions League winners had given themselves a cushion at the top of their section and thus earned the right to field a weakened team.
With Liverpool facing an away game in Brighton in the Premier League at 12:30 GMT (7:30 am ET) on Saturday, the fatigue factor was the main reason behind the selection of Klopp.
“You ask us to come on Saturday at 12:30, which is almost a crime,” Klopp said.
The injuries of key players like Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson have already taken their toll on Klopp’s squad and the coach has expressed frustration at the demands that match programming is placing on his team. . That meant Rhys Williams and Neco Williams, two 19-year-olds, started in the back, with another, Curtis Jones, in midfield.
Greek left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas, 24, only had his third start of the season in all competitions and Divock Origi also had a rare opportunity to prove that he is more than a reliable substitute. But while Alisson’s familiar figures James Milner, Joel Matip, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah were present from the start, the team changes were enough to give Atalanta a chance to claim victory that has rekindled their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.
The Italians proved in their run to last season’s quarter-finals that they are a team capable of beating more famous opponents and Klopp’s selection was a gift to coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Atalanta grabbed her with open arms, with second-half goals from Josip Ilicic and Robin Gosens scoring a victory that did not flatter the visitors. Atalanta could have scored more against a Liverpool who failed to create a single shot on goal.
Atalanta’s goals were due both to poor defense from Liverpool’s makeshift defense and their inability to stop or clear crosses from the impressive Papu Gómez. This time around, goals and defeat are unlikely to hurt Liverpool, unless they lose their last two games in the group.
But as Van Dijk and Gomez will likely be absent for most of this season, Liverpool will have to find a way to toughen up defensively on European nights, especially with their home form starting to wane – they have now won just one of their matches. past four UCL games at Anfield. If they reach the later stages, the power of the attacking players they will face ensures that Klopp’s team must be more convincing at the rear.
Alexander-Arnold will be available soon and both Fabinho and Milner have shown that they can successfully move into the bottom four and give Liverpool the solidity they lacked against Atalanta. But in the end, the problems behind on Wednesday were caused by Klopp’s selection. He was too inexperienced at this level.
The rationale for the changes was understandable as the trip to Brighton was a more difficult event due to Liverpool being in a comfortable position at the top of Group D. But Liverpool cannot risk youngsters and marginal players in the knockout stages. If injuries mean they have to play, so be it, but the lessons of Atalanta’s defeat must be taken seriously.
And when it comes to the end of the competition, winning without Van Dijk will not be easy.
Klopp will hope that by the time that stage hits, he won’t feel the need to juggle priorities in different competitions because, as he demonstrated on Wednesday, you just can’t afford to take risks in the Champions League.
