Liverpool were eliminated from the Europa League despite beating Atalanta 1-0 in Bergamo, with all the damage done in the first leg at Anfield, as they fell to a 3-1 aggregate score.
The Reds, knowing they had a mountain to climb, came flying out the traps in the second leg and enjoyed a dream start after seven minutes when Mo Salah converted from the penalty spot, but they were not able to exert any further pressure on the scoreline.
Salah was guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance to reduce the deficit again in the first half, attempting to loop an effort over Juan Musso from Cody Gakpo’s teasing through ball, but blasted disappointingly wide.
Liverpool’s well-documented wastefulness appears to be haunting them wherever they go, with the result compounding a particularly damaging few weeks for Jurgen Klopp in his final season in charge.
They have crashed out of the FA Cup to rivals Manchester United, lost ground to leaders Manchester City in the Premier League title race, and now exited European competition.
Gian Piero Gasperini called Thursday’s match probably the most important Atalanta had ever played and his players were hailed as heroes at the final whistle by a pulsating crowd at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.
Fireworks were shot into the air from behind the stands while in the ground supporters bounced and roared at a huge victory for their team against giants of European football.
Atalanta last reached the semi-finals of a European competition in 1988 when they were knocked out of the old Cup Winners’ Cup by Mechelen.
