Atalanta thump Liverpool
Atalanta's Josip Ilicic and Robin Gosens scored quickfire second-half goals to provide them a comfortable 2-0 make an impression on a toothless Liverpool, who barely managed a shot on target, within their Champions Group Group D clash in Anfield on Wednesday.
Having recently complained about fixture congestion and its effect on his injury-reach squad, Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp made numerous changes but the result was a flat performance as the house side struggled to escape second gear.
Atalanta, who had been mauled 5-0 by Liverpool found in Italy, took full advantage, punishing the hosts' sloppiness with two goals found in four minutes following the break.
Though Liverpool still lead the group on 9 points, both Atalanta and Ajax Amsterdam, who beat bottom level side Midtjylland 3-1, are now two points behind with two games left to take up.
"My only interest right now is that we got the thumbs-up, nobody injured, recover immediately ... the boys are completely disappointed, frustrated, but really, we don't have time for it, in all honesty, just get fresh hip and legs as quick as practical and go once again," Klopp told BT Sport.
The German welcomed back again Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, who had missed their Premier League make an impression on Leicester City after testing positive for COVID-19 while on international duty, but also fielded three teenagers in a much-changed side.
Rhys Williams and Neco Williams were deployed found in defence with fellow 19-year-old Curtis Jones just before them, and Atalanta exploited their insufficient experience in early stages to create some half-chances in the beginning 45 minutes.
Atalanta were greater in defence than they had been when Liverpool took them apart within their previous Champions Group outing.
The hosts, meanwhile, struggled to get the ball up to their attacking trio of Salah, Sadio Mane and Divock Origi, and it took until the 44th minute for Salah to threaten with a go that flew just huge.
Klopp looked collection to reshuffle his pack on the hour mark by taking on Roberto Firmino, Fabinho, Diogo Jota and Andy Robertson, but his aspect went behind before he could make the switches due to Ilicic scored with a deft volley from a great inswinging cross from Alejandro Gomez.
Liverpool made their alterations nonetheless they were soon two goals straight down as Gosens was still left unmarked to volley residence Hans Hateboer's knockdown from close range found in the 63rd minute.
With their attack still misfiring, Liverpool cannot rebound though as Atalanta became the first Italian side to win at Anfield since Udinese in the Europa League in October 2012.
"We had an excellent game tonight, we were able to play our football," Atalanta instructor Gian Piero Gasperini advised Italian TV. "We performed better this time around and we played quality football in addition to being solid throughout."
