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Liverpool slumped to a shock 3-0 home defeat by Atalanta on Thursday as Gianluca Scamacca struck twice for the Italian side in their Europa League quarterfinal first leg.
The loss damages Liverpool’s hopes of a treble of trophies in manager Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield.
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“Unfortunately, there is nothing really positive to say about the game,” Klopp told TNT Sports.
“I know already that if we do a couple of things better, we will be better. Can we win it back? Yes, if we play good it is possible. Can we win 3-0? I have no idea. But this feels really bad and that’s important.”
Atalanta took the lead at Liverpool after 38 minutes when an unmarked Scamacca struck a low shot past keeper Caoimhín Kelleher from Davide Zappacosta‘s pinpoint pass.
Klopp sent on Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson as substitutes for the second half in an effort to turn things around but Scamacca pounced on poor Liverpool defending to fire home from a fine cross by Charles De Ketelaere in the 60th minute.
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Mario Pasalic then sealed the rout seven minutes from time.
The loss was Liverpool’s first at Anfield since Feb. 21, 2023, when suffering a 5-2 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.
Liverpool will now need to produce another famous comeback in order to keep their Europa League hopes alive when the two sides meet again in Italy next week.
Liverpool won Carabao Cup and are in a tight Premier League title race with Arsenal and Manchester City.
If Liverpool reach the Europa League final, it would be Klopp’s final game in charge after nearly nine years.
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.