Liverpool have been knocked out of the Europa League after failing to overturn a huge deficit in their quarter-final tie with Atalanta.
The Reds fell to a shock 3-0 loss at Anfield in the first leg of the tie, leaving Jurgen Klopp’s charges with a mountain to climb in Italy.
Admittedly, Liverpool did make the perfect start in Bergamo by winning a penalty in the fifth minute of the match.
Mohamed Salah stepped up to the spot and converted his effort from 12 yards out, laying some good foundations for Liverpool to mount a superb comeback.
Sadly, it wasn’t to be. The Reds laboured for much of the game and were pretty wasteful in the final third, enabling Atalanta to see the tie out without too many issues.
Klopp made a host of changes midway through the second half, with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz making way in the 66th minute.
Dominik Szoboszlai followed almost immediately after, while Trent Alexander and Andrew Robertson came off in the 72nd and 79th minute respectively.
What did Peter Crouch say about Liverpool’s substitutions against Atalanta?
Liverpool cult hero Peter Crouch, covering the game on TNT Sports, claimed that Liverpool made life “even more difficult” for themselves without Salah and Diaz.
“Liverpool just couldn’t find a way to break them down,” said Crouch.
“With Salah and Diaz off the pitch in the second half it was even more difficult… in the second leg they just managed it.”
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Although Salah and Diaz are quality players, they weren’t at their very best on Thursday night. What’s more, Klopp has to think about the Premier League too.
Liverpool have a fairly quick turnaround, facing Fulham away on Sunday. And the Reds will probably need to win every game if they hope to dethrone Manchester City at the top.
With that in mind, those substitutions were the right decision to make.
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