Liverpool secured victory on the night, yet Jurgen Klopp’s squad found themselves outmatched and outplayed as they bowed out of the Europa League against a determined Atalanta team.
Despite their win, Liverpool’s persistent wastefulness has plagued them in recent matches. In Bergamo, missed opportunities overshadowed their performance, with scarce chances created in a disjointed and disappointing showing.
Atalanta, currently sixth in Serie A, showcased their prowess with an intense high press and relentless work ethic. Their tactics effectively neutralized Liverpool’s attacking prowess.
In the ebb and flow of football, there are peaks and valleys. However, Liverpool’s dominant displays earlier in the campaign, under Klopp’s leadership, have now dwindled. The prospect of a glorious finish hangs precariously in the balance, with European hopes fading.
Mohamed Salah Was Miles Off It
Mohamed Salah emerged as the decisive figure, clinching victory with a penalty kick after Matteo Ruggeri’s handball in the box, prompted by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s delivery. However, beyond that moment, positivity was scarce.
Throughout the match, the 31-year-old Egyptian laboured, squandering a golden opportunity to narrow Liverpool’s deficit to Atalanta on aggregate just before halftime. Placed one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Salah opted for a chip, only to witness his attempt drift off target.
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Salah’s latest goal brings his season total to 23 goals and 13 assists across 37 matches in all competitions. However, his recent performance suggests a dip in form, evident in his surprising miss to make it 2-0, reflecting a loss of confidence.
While Salah missed a crucial chance, the lack of creativity from his midfielders, notably Dominik Szoboszlai, further hindered his effectiveness yet again.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s Performance vs Atalanta
In the second leg, Szoboszlai managed to avoid the disastrous mistakes of the first game, where his loss of possession led to Atalanta’s third goal. However, his performance still fell short of expectations, as he failed to make a significant impact, wasting several promising opportunities in the first half. He was substituted after an unremarkable attempt in the second half.
According to Sofascore, Szoboszlai had 49 touches and completed 85% of his passes. He also won five out of eight duels. However, these statistics do not accurately reflect his overall performance, which was once again underwhelming.
Despite his efforts, Szoboszlai did not create any key chances for his teammates, as Atalanta’s defense effectively neutralized his influence. It seems apparent that he should be dropped from the starting lineup if Liverpool hopes to salvage their season before Klopp departs.
In his post-match player ratings, Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo gave Szoboszlai a match rating of 5/10, tying with Salah for the lowest rating of the game. Doyle’s assessment highlights the shortcomings of Szoboszlai’s performance: “Fired one shot at Musso first half but otherwise frustrated with some slack distribution in promising areas. Pretty anonymous after the interval.”
Alisson Becker showcased his exceptional ball-handling skills at the Kewiss Stadium, amassing 105 touches and successfully completing 82 passes, surpassing all other players on the field regardless of team. Remarkably, the Brazilian goalkeeper’s pass completion achievement marks a historic milestone in Champions League or Europa League fixtures, according to Opta records.
In the end, Klopp’s rallying cries and pre-match pensiveness, harking back to former European successes, proved futile for an outfit that has seen its zest and zeal sucked out.
Liverpool fizzed out like a flat soda left out in the sun and the chastening bluntness in the second half underlines this.
It was a limp and lethargic performance from the collective.
Liverpool were painted a uniform grey and any early-game optimism was wiped away as it became painfully clear that Atalanta had their guests marshalled.
On the flip side, Liverpool still have it all to play for in the Premier League despite last weekend’s humbling Anfield loss against Crystal Palace.
But Szoboszlai must not start in the forthcoming fixture against Fulham at Craven Cottage – the Hungarian has lost his way.
In other Liverpool news, Liverpool Reluctantly Agree ‘World-class’ Star to Depart Alongside Klopp, as Premier League Rival Prepare Enhanced Offer