Liverpool ratings: Van Dijk gets 3/10 as Atalanta stun Reds

A lacklustre Liverpool aspect made a poor begin to their Europa League quarterfinal as they misplaced 3-0 to Atalanta within the first leg at Anfield.

The guests virtually acquired in entrance early on when discovering Mario Pašalić contained in the field, solely to be denied by the pinnacle of the on-rushing Caoimhín Kelleher.

Darwin Núñez ought to have had the Reds forward when he was unlocked into area by Curtis Jones, however the Uruguay worldwide acquired the end all mistaken when inserting his effort astray.

La Dea’s man-marking system continued to trigger issues for Liverpool, and so they ultimately acquired their reward within the thirty eighth minute when Davide Zappacosta‘s cross discovered Gianluca Scamacca, whose effort went in off the arms of Kelleher. The Liverpool goalkeeper redeemed himself moments later to forestall his aspect getting into 2-0 down on the break.

The dwelling aspect confirmed indicators of life within the second half as Mohamed Salah, launched as a part of a triple substitution, compelled a cease from Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso earlier than Núñez could not redeem himself for his earlier miss when hitting astray once more.

But Jurgen Klopp quickly noticed his aspect go 2-0 down as Scamacca calmly positioned the ball previous Kelleher to register his brace with no defender round him. Salah was marginally offside which noticed his effort dominated out, and issues acquired even worse for Liverpool when Pašalić secured a three-goal benefit for Atalanta heading into the second leg.

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Positives

Cody Gakpo was the one constructive performance-wise for Liverpool, in certainly one of his finest shows in current weeks. The Reds additionally welcomed again Diogo Jota, who will probably be very important going ahead.

Negatives

Liverpool now have a mountain to climb within the second leg. It was one of many worst performances of the season in a visit to Anfield for Atalanta that turned out to be a stroll. The Serie A aspect had been nicely value their victory given the quantity of probabilities they made.

Manager ranking (out of 10)

Jürgen Klopp, 6 — Jurgen Klopp wasn’t comfortable along with his aspect’s first-half efficiency and did not waste time making modifications with a triple substitution at half-time. His modifications did see some extra probabilities created, however he was let down by an total poor efficiency.

Player rankings (1-10; 10 = finest)

GK Caoimhin Kelleher, 5 — The Republic of Ireland worldwide was let down by his defence. While he may have completed higher with the primary aim that went in off him, it may have been a worse scoreline with out him.

DF Kostas Tsimikas, 4 — Tsimikas was caught too excessive up the pitch continuously, and it was down his aspect the place Atalanta created two large probabilities — scoring certainly one of them. Replaced at halftime by Andy Robertson.

DF Ibrahima Konaté, 3 — Sometimes struggled to transition the ball into ahead areas as Liverpool continued to turnover possession towards Atalanta’s strict man-marking system. Couldn’t appear to maintain near Scamacca.

DF Virgil van Dijk, 3 — Stood off Zappacosta which allowed him to get the ball into Scamacca for the opener, and the participant who performed him onside for the second aim. Liverpool’s defence needed to be higher with their organisation on the night time.

DF Joe Gomez, 3 — Both Gomez and Konaté did not appear to be in sync with one another at occasions, with an enormous hole left for Atalanta’s second. The 26-year-old was compelled ahead to assist chase the sport, however may solely produce some wasteful efforts from vary.

MF Wataru Endo, 5 — Struggled to interrupt up play and come up with the sport, and he may have been higher at transitioning the ball ahead.

MF Alexis Mac Allister, 5 — Mac Allister stored issues easy in midfield towards a troublesome Atalanta set-up, however he wasn’t as influential as he has been in current weeks.

MF Curtis Jones, 6 — Another necessary 45 minutes for Jones who’s getting back from damage, and he was unfortunate to not get an help after Núñez did not end his incisive cross.

FW Cody Gakpo, 8 — The Netherlands worldwide was certainly one of Liverpool’s standouts in assault and thrived when working straight with the ball after drifting inside from the left flank. Intelligent play within the second half noticed him arrange Salah after which Núñez within the area of two minutes. He completed the sport with 5 key passes.

FW Darwin Núñez, 4 — Things did not come off for the Liverpool ahead on the night time, which began when he was wasteful along with his first probability of the sport. Had an opportunity to redeem himself within the second half however was off-target once more.

FW Harvey Elliott, 6 –– Unlucky along with his well-struck effort within the first half that hit underneath the crossbar after which the within of the publish. Taken off at halftime with Klopp introducing Salah.

Substitutes

Andy Robertson (Tsimikas, 46′) 6 — The Scotland worldwide made an affect on the left and was concerned in constructive play, with some standout link-up play with Gakpo.

Mohamed Salah (Elliott, 46′) 6 — Forced a robust cease from the Atalanta goalkeeper Musso within the fifty fifth minute on the close to publish. A marginal offside noticed his effort dominated out after connecting with Robertson’s cross.

Dominik Szoboszlai (Jones, 46′) 5 — Szoboszlai helped stretch the play by making direct runs behind the defence, however he did not actually get an opportunity to get on the ball in any harmful areas.

Luis Díaz (Núñez, 59′) 5 — Drove ahead with the ball from central areas however was let down by his closing ball.

Diogo Jota (Endo, 76′) N/R — Almost gained a penalty inside seconds of being launched. Looked to be the one participant choosing up clever areas contained in the field late-on.