Peter Crouch says Liverpool haven't played well since Manchester United loss - 'That shell-shocked them'
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 18/04/2024 at 23:04 GMT
Liverpool exited the UEFA Europa League as they were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Atalanta. Mohamed Salah scored the only goal in the second leg from the penalty spot as Liverpool were unable to reach the semi-finals. TNT Sports experts Peter Crouch and Gary McAllister reflected on Liverpool missing "golden opportunities" and not being clinical enough in front of goal.
: Harvey Elliott of Liverpool FC reacts as team mate Virgil van Dijk applauds the fans following the final whistle of the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Quarter-Final second leg match between Atalanta and Liverpool FC at Stadio di Bergamo on April 18, 2024 in
Image credit: Getty Images
Peter Crouch thinks Liverpool have been “shell-shocked” since their surprise defeat to Manchester United after seeing them lose to Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals.
Liverpool won the second leg 1-0 but were beaten 3-1 on aggregate.
The victory is only Liverpool’s third in all competitions since they were beaten 4-3 by United a month ago to end their quadruple hopes.
In the last fortnight they have drawn against United in the Premier League, lost to Atalanta, and then were beaten at home by Crystal Palace in the league.
“I don’t think they have played well since the Man Utd game, I think that kind of shell-shocked them,” said former Liverpool forward Crouch on TNT Sports. “They need to get the ball forward quicker and be more incisive.”
Liverpool gave themselves hope against Atalanta in the second leg when Mohamed Salah scored an early penalty.
However, they could not find the net again and have now gone 360 minutes without scoring in open play in all competitions.
“They have made chances,” said former Liverpool midfielder and TNT Sports expert Gary McAllister.
McAllister continued: “Whether they have played free-flowing football and have been attractive to watch, maybe not, they have not played as well as I have seen them in past years. But they are creating a lot of chances and they are missing big chances.
“They have just not been clinical enough in front of goal; if they had they could quite easily be involved in all the tournaments.
“If you keep missing these golden opportunities you are going to pay for it and they have recently.”
Two of Liverpool’s best chances in the first half fell to Luis Diaz and Salah but neither could convert.
Salah’s miss was especially surprising as he shot well wide with just the 'keeper to beat.
“For Salah on his left foot it’s an easy finish,” said Crouch.
Crouch continued: “If he’s scoring goals for fun like he usually is I think that goes in. It’s not that difficult but it just comes off his shin. That’s the one that will be going through his mind tonight.
“That was in the first half and it could have been so different.”
Liverpool are two points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City and next travel to Fulham on Sunday.
The game is the first of three successive away trips in the league.
“They really have to dust themselves down,” added McAllister. “They will get on a plane, get back early tomorrow morning and have a day of recovery and then it’s back travelling to London.
"There is no time to mope around, the senior players have got to get the whole squad together and go ‘we have six games to go here and we have to concentrate fully on the next game against Fulham and go for three points’.”
- - -
TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article