Liverpool 0 Atalanta 3: Jurgen Klopp’s Treble dream in tatters as Reds are humiliated in Europa League quarter-final

PEP GUARDIOLA once said that playing Atalanta was like a trip to the dentist.

And at Anfield tonight, the Italians inflicted an enormous amount of pain on Jurgen Klopp who might not be getting his big send-off in Dublin after all.

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Liverpool’s fans have already block-booked hotels in the Irish capital for May 22 which is the date of the Europa League final - and it would also be Klopp’s final game in charge of the club.

But those hopes of a party in Temple Bar are now hanging by a thread and the Reds need to deliver something extraordinary in the city of Bergamo next Thursday.

Against Gian Piero Gasperini’s well-drilled team, this will be an incredibly tough task for Klopp and his team.

Yet the biggest surprise last night was that striker who took the role as dental surgeon was his scalpel was West Ham flop Gianluca Scamacca.

He did not do much in east London and even after his £22.5m move to Atalanta in the summer, Scamacca had not exactly set Serie A alight and has lost his place in the Italian national team.

But he came into this tie on a decent scoring run and he continued that form by scoring twice to stun the Kop.

His first goal should have been saved by Caoimhin Kelleher but his finish for the second was absolutely superb.

As for Klopp, he was left shaking his head in disbelief.

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The 2-2 draw at Manchester United on Sunday was disappointing enough but Liverpool still played well and should have been out of sight in Old Trafford.

But here, this was a truly underwhelming performance.

At half-time, Klopp made three changes and chucked on Mo Salah, Dominic Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson but unusually, there was no major Anfield comeback.

With just two wins from their previous nine games, Atalanta - sixth in Serie A - had not been in great form.

Due to a protest over a two per cent ticket increase at Anfield next season, there were no flags in the Kop.

Although the previous time Atalanta visited here in the Champions League in November 2020, there were no fans - due to Covid restrictions - and Liverpool lost 2-0.

But considering Liverpool’s form this season, you would not have expected history to repeat itself once again.

Atalanta should have taken the lead in front of the Kop in under three minutes when Mario Pasalic somehow failed to score from close range when he booted a shot into the face of Caoimhin Kelleher who was left with a large red mark around his left eye.

It could have been seen as a good save by the Irishman but ultimately, the Croatian international should have scored.

Atalanta, missing injured former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinic, wasted another chance when Davide Zappacosta, despite being in a terrific position to score, made the stupid decision to pull the ball back for Teun Koopmeiners whose effort was blocked.

Darwin Nunez had scored seven goals in his previous 10 games for Liverpool but he is still an infuriating player who lacks composure at crucial moments. Not for the first time this season, he wasted an easy chance with a wild finish when he could have just walked the ball around exposed keeper Juan Musso.

From a far more difficult position than his team-mate, Havey Elliott came so close to scoring a cracking opening goal but in a huge let-off for Atalanta, his curling shot hit both the bar and then the post.

After those early scares, Liverpool had done a decent job in frustrating the Italians but they let themselves down seven minutes before half-time.

Former Chelsea defender Zappacosta had a ridiculous amount of space down the right and he had time to pick out Scamacca who struck a first-time shot from just inside the area. The effort was not particularly powerful but it bounced against the ground and then went under the diving Kelleher.

Left-back Kostas Tsimikas had been extremely poor and he delivered another disappearing act in first-half injury time. Koopmeiners had a free run on goal but he took a heavy first touch and then blasted a shot against the onrushing Kelleher.

Tsimikas could have few complaints at the break when he was one of three changes with Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones also making way.

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Liverpool looked better following the changes and Salah forced an excellent save from Musso.

But incredibly, Klopp’s team were too open at the back. Charles De Ketelaere found space out right and he picked out Scamacca who was left completely unmarked by both Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate.

Scamacca delivered a brilliant first-time finish past Kelleher and West Ham fans will have wished they had seen a few more moments like this.

Liverpool thought they had pulled one goal back but Mo Salah was offside.

But with seven minutes left, Szoboszlai lost possession, Scamacca delivered a brilliant pass to Ederson and while his shot was saved, Pasalic had a tap-in for 3-0.

As for Klopp, this loss could come at a critical time. With one trophy in the bag, they are still hoping for a treble but this is now looking unlikely.