Liverpool’s loss against Atalanta on Thursday evening was one of their worst of the Jurgen Klopp era.
The Reds were well beaten by the Italian team, looking nonplussed against their aggressive, man-marking approach.
Of course, it isn’t beyond Liverpool to get themselves back into it in the second-leg next week. But unless a minor miracle happens, this tie is over.
It didn’t have to be this way. The Reds had a glorious opportunity early on, but Darwin Nunez failed to convert. Harvey Elliott’s excellent strike then hit the crossbar and the post as Liverpool failed to get themselves in front. From there, it was pretty much as bad as it’s ever been under Klopp.
However, speaking in his post-match press conference, Jurgen claimed that at least one player had shown some positive moments during the game.
Jurgen Klopp shares Curtis Jones positive
In reality, there were very few Liverpool players who could come out of last night’s game with any credit at all.
As well as Nunez, Joe Gomez was frustrating in all aspects of his game, while Kostas Tsimikas was hauled off at half-time after a shocking performance. Jones was also one of three changes at half-time, with Elliott also replaced.
However, Klopp was keen to explain that none of those three substitutions were necessarily performance based, with the manager happy with Jones’ display in particular.
“That’s how it is. You lose the game then your changes are questionable. I get that, 100 per cent,” Klopp said, after being asked on about the changes to his starting XI. “For the reasons I did it I would do exactly the same way again, but as I said, if you want to be good in the rest of the season then we have to make changes. We have to.
“We didn’t take off the three ‘worst’ players. That’s probably what people make of it and how the boys looked at half-time. Nobody wants to [come off]. Curtis came back from injury, you could see good moments and then, again, it was the most important training session he had now since he is back. Forty-five minutes, going over the point constantly.
“Harvey was alright, Kosti [Tsimikas] not a lot of rhythm, so then you think, ‘OK, come on, give the game a chance…’ but, by the way, we lost the second half 2-0 and the first half 1-0, so I don’t know which one was better. It’s just how it is. It’s absolutely fine. I am responsible for this result first and foremost, I know that, but the decision I would probably take the same.”
Is Curtis Jones fit to play on Sunday
It wasn’t a surprise to see Jones brought back into the line-up last night. Having made two substitute appearances since returning from injury, it did feel like the right time to start the 23-year-old.
Nevertheless, in hindsight, we do think Klopp might have rethought this whole thing. It wasn’t just Jones, Tsimikas is incredibly rusty having barely played since December. Having the two of them combine on Liverpool’s left felt like a recipe for disaster against such a well-drilled side.
In the case of the Scouser especially, it might well have been that the plan was to give him 45 minutes all along. As Jurgen says, it will have done him good.
It will also likely mean that Jones is much more ready to go for a bit longer against Crystal Palace on Sunday. We’d be surprised not to see him start. But, despite what Klopp says, he’ll have to be much better.