Liverpool’s hopes of advancing immediately to the 16th Champions League were defeated when Jurgen Klopp’s bet failed in the 2-0 home defeat to Atalanta.
The Reds manager has made five adjustments since Sunday’s win over Leicester, adding 3 of his four sides, and paid for it with a lack of team spirit and speed that allowed the quarter-finals of last season’s first-team win at Anfield in 90 minutes Chelsea in September 2018.
Even Mohamed Salah’s return from his positive check at Covid-19 may simply not get the team out of their lethargy, or generate a framed shot in 90 minutes, as the goals of Josip Ilicic and Robin Gosens at the time ensured that there would be no option for Klopp to let the players rest in their last two games.
– Atalanta B. C. (@Atalanta_BC) November 25, 2020
The win over Ajax next week would ensure a safe pace and, with the December calendar, Klopp must avoid the nightmare situation of having something to play with the last match opposed to Midtjylland.
The arrival of defenders Williams Neco and Rhys meant that, in addition to Curtis Jones, Liverpool were the first team to call up three British teenagers in a Champions League lineup since Arsenal opposed Olympiacos in nearly 11 years.
Three of Liverpool’s four sides have made only 23 first-team appearances, so there is an understandable reluctance to get off the blocks while adapting to their new environment.
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 25, 2020
But he played the game for Atalanta, with Papu Gomez influencing the debates.
Liverpool played as if they were a team in the water and waiting for the moment-half cavalry and this infuriated Klopp, who on more than one occasion shouted at striker Divock Origi for his lack of movement and Kostas Tsimikas, causing his moment to start ever since. Lincoln in the Carabao Cup, for his positioning.
The fact that they arrived at half-time was largely due to Alisson Becker’s exact stop at Gosens’ shooting and referee Carlos Grande saw Ilicic’s apparent attempt to win a penalty when he hit Liverpool’s left-back.
Salah fired a minute before the break, the hosts’ only effort and sailed to the Anfield Road End.
Fifteen minutes after the middle of the moment, Klopp had noticed enough and called for backup, sending Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmimo, Fabinho and Andy Robertson.
But as the quartet stayed away waiting to arrive, Atalanta moved forward when a Gomez center passed through Ilicic.
They had a bit of time to make their presence felt before the away lead was doubled by Gosens’ unmarked side foot at home with a Hans Hateboer header almost exactly 3 years after the day since he scored through Stanley Park in front. to Everton.