Liverpool were knocked out of the Europa League by Atalanta on Thursday as Jurgen Klopp struggled again in his final season with the Reds, with their Italian rivals advancing to the semi-finals 3-1 on aggregate. Atalanta reached the last four of a European competition for the first time since 1988, despite Mohamed Salah’s penalty giving Liverpool a 1-0 win in the second leg in the quarter-final first leg at Anfield. Took a three-goal lead week.

In a sobering climax to the season, Liverpool have won just four of their last nine games and are once again looking tired after 52 games into the campaign.

Jurgen Klopp’s final season on Merseyside is likely to end with just the Carabao Cup as the German side have been knocked out of the FA Cup and Europa League and sit two points behind Manchester City in the Premier League title race. point.

“We didn’t lose tonight, we didn’t draw, we lost at home. They deserved to advance. When you beat us 3-1 in this way, you deserve to advance.” Lopp told reporters.

“Disappointed that we didn’t qualify but I’m not angry or frustrated or anything like that. Now we need to focus on the league.”

Gian Piero Gasperini called Thursday’s game possibly Atalanta’s most important ever and his players were hailed by a thrilling crowd at Bergamo’s Gevez Stadium at the final whistle hero.

Fireworks were fired into the air from behind the stands, while supporters on the ground cheered for their team’s victory over European football giants.

Atalanta last reached the semi-finals of a European competition in 1988, when they were eliminated by Mechelen in the old Cup Winners’ Cup.

They were a Serie B side at the time, but the future was looking brighter for a historically smaller provincial club that has consistently outperformed since Gasperini took charge in 2016. strength.

“So much heart”

Reaching the semi-finals even surpasses their performance in the 2020 Champions League quarter-finals, when they were so unlucky to lose to Paris Saint-Germain.

The rise came at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, with Bergamo becoming the epicenter of the deadly global health crisis.

Atalanta still have a chance to crown Gasperini’s reign and win the club’s first major trophy since the 1963 Coppa Italia.

“We eliminated a great team and a great coach. We did it in two games and we really gave it our all. We gave a lot of effort,” Gasperini told Sky Sports .

Liverpool’s damage was done in the first leg, with the Reds’ near-mythical counter-attacking ability unable to close the three-goal deficit following a disastrous first-leg performance.

Atalanta did give Liverpool a lifeline in the fifth minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross struck Matteo Ruggieri’s arm, allowing Salah to calmly reduce the deficit to two goals.

The visiting team was watching eagerly, and Atalanta found it difficult to cope with Liverpool’s pressing and quick passing.

But they caused a few scares for Liverpool, first when Alexey Milanchuk failed to contain Gianluca Scamaca’s through ball in the 19th minute, before the Russians again got a decent Chance.

Five minutes before the break, Salah squandered a great chance to score his second goal of the game when he deflected a shot wide after being blocked by Cody Gakpo. .

Chances were exchanged in the second half, with Atalanta digging deep in defense to try to frustrate Liverpool and hit them on the break.

In the 67th minute, Davide Zappacosta made a powerful breakthrough from the right, Scamacca missed the opportunity, and Liverpool failed to defeat the Atlanta team at its peak.

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