Atalanta 0-1 Liverpool – Mohamed Salah scores penalty but Reds dumped out of Europe by Serie A side
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 20/04/2024 at 16:10 GMT
Mohamed Salah’s first-half penalty gave Liverpool hope as they tried to overturn a three-goal deficit against Atalanta in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final in Bergamo. However, despite dominating possession, Jurgen Klopp’s side were unable to add to their lead on the night and the Serie A club held on to progress to the next round.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool FC reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Quarter-Final second leg match between Atalanta and Liverpool FC at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on April 18, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy.
Image credit: Getty Images
Mohamed Salah was on target but Liverpool’s hopes of a famous comeback were thwarted as they bowed out of the UEFA Europa League at the quarter-final stage despite a 1-0 victory at Atalanta.
Jurgen Klopp’s men faced an almost impossible task following a shock 3-0 home reversal in the first leg at Anfield and so it proved as La Dea progressed 3-1 on aggregate.
The Merseyside club got off to the perfect start on seven minutes when Salah netted his 24th goal of the season from the penalty spot.
The Egyptian then wasted a gilt-edged chance to double Liverpool’s lead on the night when he lobbed wide when sent clear by Cody Gakpo.
Atalanta improved following the interval and should have levelled but Ederson shot straight at Alisson.
Liverpool ran out of ideas midway through the second period and never looked like setting up a barnstorming finale in what will prove to be Klopp’s final match in charge in Europe.
Atalanta will now meet Marseille in the semi-finals. Liverpool will turn their full attention to the Premier League title race and a match at Fulham on Sunday.
Talking Point – Liverpool fall short as Klopp's farewell tour comes down to Premier League push
When Salah struck inside the opening 10 minutes the talk of stirring European comebacks gathered momentum on social platforms, but in the end it wasn’t to be as Liverpool’s first-leg nightmare proved too much of a mountain to climb.
Klopp may well regret picking a weakened side to start that game at Anfield and he didn’t make that mistake here, with Trent Alexander-Arnold showing how influential he can be early on in his first start since injury. Understandably, he ran out of steam - and so did his teammates - with the visitors' first-half promise fizzling out.
Indeed, Liverpool won the night but it’s the Italians who move on after securing arguably the finest triumph in their history.
The Merseysiders will now need to focus all their energies on their final six Premier League matches, with no margin for error and favours needed to reel Manchester City back in.
Player of the match
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool). The right-back demonstrated the creativity the Reds have been missing in his absence on what was his first start since February 10. It was his cross that led to the only goal while his comfort in possession and long-range passing caught the eye for the majority of his 72 minutes on the pitch. It may not have helped a Liverpool revival here, but it bodes well for the PL run-in.
Player Ratings
ATALANTA: Musso 7, Gjimshiti 8, Hien 8, Kolasinac 8, Zappacosta 8, De Roon 7, Ederson 7, Ruggeri 7, Koopmeiners 7, Miranchuk 7, Scamacca 8. Subs: Pasalic 6, De Ketelaere 6, Lookman n/a.
LIVERPOOL: Alisson 6, Alexander-Arnold 8*, Konate 6, Van Dijk 6, Robertson 6, Mac Allister 7, Szoboszlai 6, Jones 6, Salah 6, Gakpo 7, Diaz 6. Subs: Elliott 6, Jota 6, Nunez 5, Gomez 6, Danns n/a.
Match Highlights
07’ – GOAL! – Atalanta 0-1 Liverpool: (Salah penalty - Atalanta lead 3-1 on aggregate). Mo Salah rifles a low spot kick into the corner with Juan Musso diving the wrong way. The penalty was awarded after Alexander-Arnold’s cross was handled in the area.
39’ – LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Gakpo plays Salah through on goal, but the Egyptian's lob with Musso in no man’s land drops well wide of the far post. He simply had to score there.
50’ – ATALANTA CHANCE! Ederson can't find a way past Alisson from 15 yards out after Zappacosta's low cross have caused havoc in the visiting area.
Key Stat
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article