In a shocking turn of events, the final European match at Anfield under Jürgen Klopp’s stewardship of Liverpool was marked by lacklustre show and a sense of defeat. There appeared to be a rift between supporters and the club, contradicting the spirit that Klopp has successfully built for nearly a decade. However, the urgent challenge for Klopp is to reignite enthusiasm and confidence to clinch another Premier League.
Liverpool failed to deliver against Atalanta, and not all of the reasons lay with the Italian team. Notwithstanding, Gian Piero Gasperini’s troops put up an excellent display, with an impressive 3-0 victory proving why they continue to be unbeaten in 11 Europa League away matches. Currently sixth in Serie A, Atalanta was sharp, tactically wise and in strong form in defence, even against a four-strong Liverpool attack.
Bouncing back against such a well-disciplined defence unit in the subsequent match in Bergamo will be a daunting task for Liverpool. Klopp’s team thrashed Atalanta 5-0 in a Champions League match in this city, amidst the bleak era of the pandemic in November 2020. Nevertheless, that’s all in the past.
Liverpool found themselves in another predicament when their typically fiery European quarter-final determination had burned out. With seven matches left in a touch-and-go title race, Klopp is worried fatigue is affecting recent performances, apparent in the game against Atalanta. Players like Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas, benched owing to prolonged injuries, were seemingly off rhythm and were substituted at half time along with Harvey Elliott.
In Klopp’s words, the substitution wasn’t because they were the weakest players, but rather due to a lack of consistent rhythm in the team’s performance. The usually match-changing substitutes, except for Andy Robertson, who is himself regaining fitness after being side-lined for months, failed to impress this time.
Mohamed Salah’s numerous threats and a disallowed offside goal were efficiently dealt with by Matteo Ruggeri and Atalanta’s skipper, Marten de Roon. Liverpool’s shortcomings in decision making during the additional minutes of their FA Cup defeat against Manchester United, which Klopp attributed to both mental and physical exhaustion, were manifest once more as Atalanta exploited Dominik Szoboszlai’s sloppy pass for their third tally. Liverpool’s influential players this season, including Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister, Gomez and Caoimhín Kelleher, clearly exhibited signs of fatigue.
Placing the blame on Klopp’s choice to rotate essential players for the interruption of Liverpool’s enviable 33-match unbeaten run at home may appear harsh and somewhat contradictory. Klopp’s astute management of the squad amidst a substantial injury crisis has been crucial in keeping Liverpool competitive across various tournaments this season. Klopp has brought 30 players into play in the Europa League, the highest number for this season’s contest, and 35 across all formats. Each player’s game time is calculated with precision to ensure Liverpool sustain a strong finish to the season. Nonetheless, there are early indications of wear and tear at the worst possible juncture.
In the wake of the loss, Klopp reflected, “My role is not the most arduous in the world, nor is it the easiest.” He added, “The challenge lies in ensuring the right mix of players on the field and coordinating effectively, which we have done successfully with different lineups this year, except today. Our loss today can be attributed to this flaw. You’re free to headline it with: ‘Blah, blah, blah – it didn’t come together.’ That’s accurate and acceptable. However, we require all our players to bring their A-game, to be assertive, fit, passionate, slightly agitated, more focussed on the team’s objectives rather than their individual circumstances such as lack of playing time or being out of rhythm. This must be avoided.”
Diogo Jota was in impressive form, with a short yet effective stint of 20-25 minutes, stated Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s manager. He also shared his surprise when Curtis, who has been one of their fit stalwarts all season, was visibly affected by the game’s intensity just 20 minutes in. Such instances led Klopp to make decisive changes at half time with no intention of risking his players unnecessarily. Despite conceding that the team failed to showcase their unmatched talent and ultimately bore the loss, he maintains high spirits.
Klopp’s Liverpool side, with 13 victories against Crystal Palace, more than against any other team, will potentially provoke a reaction as Anfield is restored to its former glory with flags on Sunday after a recent stand-off with fans protesting against a 2% increase in ticket prices. Eagerly awaited by Klopp is a resurgence of the usual Liverpool vigour, a shared sentiment with Dublin’s publicans who are looking forward to Liverpool’s sustained participation in the Europa League.
Following any sub-par performance, Klopp believes that the subsequent improvement becomes relatively straightforward and that’s the team’s approach. The bitter taste of defeat should serve as a catalyst toward this goal. Klopp emphasized the need for the team to reflect on the loss, recover, regroup and, above all, show a definitive response. However, the articulation of imparting this response, he admits, as with other instances of football matches lost in the past, requires contemplation for which he needs some time. Regardless, he ended on a resolute note, guaranteeing a fitting response will be shown by Liverpool.