Liverpool’s treble hopes this season is thinning towards collapse following a chastening defeat to Serie A underdogs Atalanta in the Europa League quarterfinal first leg.
It was the least expected of results at Anfield as the Nerazurri romped to a stormy victory over the Premier League giants. A brace from Scamacca and Pasalic completed a 3-0 rout for the visitors.
Mohamed Salah found the back of the net for the Reds but he could not timed his run perfectly and was caught by the offside trap.
At the blast of the final whistle, the Gian Piero Gasperini-led side secured an unlikely and shocking victory over the competition favorites.
Like the host of disappointed Liverpool fans, who left the stadium in droves before the final whistle, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was equally disappointed with the result.
Speaking after the match, the German did not mince words as he admitted it was a ‘bad’ game and he did not see that coming.
“It was a bad game. Oh my God,” he said.
“The result was shocking and we did not expect that. The players lost touch with the plot and went asunder,” he added.
When asked whether Liverpool can win in Italy in the return leg, Klopp responded in the affirmative. However, when grilled further whether they can overturn the 3-0 deficit, he said he ‘doesn’t know.’
Liverpool will face a tough task overturning the 3-0 deficit at Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy next week. They must win with a four-goal margin to qualify for the last four of the competition.
Previously clawing his Liverpool charges in four major competitions, Klopp could now be left with only the Premier League title to add to their EFL Cup if they crash out of the Europa League.
