JURGEN KLOPP ACCEPTED Liverpool’s lack of goal threat failed to put enough pressure on Atalanta to help turn their Europa League quarter-final back in their favour.
Mohamed Salah’s seventh-minute penalty had raised hopes of a Barcelona 2019-style comeback but the Egypt international missed a relatively straightforward lob to make it 2-0 towards the end of the first half and they faded badly after the break as they exited the competition 3-1 on aggregate.
That meant for only the third time in the 21st century, England have no teams in the semi-finals of the Champions League or Europa League/UEFA Cup.
“We didn’t lose the tie tonight, we lost it at home,” Klopp said after a 3-0 first-leg defeat proved decisive.
“It’s very easy to congratulate Atalanta because they deserved to go through. When you win a tie against us 3-1 in especially this way you deserve it absolutely.
“But I loved our game, especially the start. I loved the commitment, desire and power we developed in this game but it was clear we had better score from time to time otherwise it could be tricky over 90 minutes.
“The second goal could have helped a little bit. We have to create a little bit more than we did in the first half as it’s clear you need a result to help destabilise the opponent.
“If you have a second goal it’s a tricky one as the next goal is extra time but we didn’t get to that point and we will never really know how that would have looked.
“Disappointed we didn’t go through but not frustrated or angry. If you don’t deserve it, it’s all good.”
Salah has looked well short of his clinical best since returning from almost two months out with a hamstring problem.
Even though he has scored six in 11 game since he came back two of those have been penalties and he is squandering more chances he would normally be expected to take.
“I’m not particularly concerned. That’s what strikers do. That’s how it it is. We have to go through it, he has to go through it,” added Klopp.
“He is one of most experienced players in the squad. That’s pretty much all.
“It’s not that Mo didn’t miss chances before in his life, that’s part of the game. The penalty was super convincing, a super penalty then the next chance that was unlucky, but it’s not the first time has has missed chances like that.
“I won’t make a big story of it. I’m not particularly concerned.”
Very poor end and not a great sign when there was abouselt zero impact off the bench.No complaints over the 2 legs.
@colin coady: no complaints??!! They were absolutely rubbish.
@Brendan O Brien: I think he means no complaints with the outcome of the tie…
@colin coady: what impact did you expect bringing on the mule from Uruguay.
@colin coady: apart from Villa, bad year for English teams. I mean, even the greatest, biggest club in England, coming last in probably the easiest group ever seen, with a team on the fall in bundesliga, total embarrassment. A blight on the game in England. A very bad year for English teams.
No cutting edge. Worst I’ve seen Salah play since joining. Fatigue maybe
@Gary Galligan: poor excuse. Every other team is after a long season.
The whole front line were very poor. Starters and subs. The a@#e has fallen out of it unfortunately.
They need to reset at the end of the season and come back fresh for August. Maybe some backpacking during the summer will help them rejuvenate?
@Brendan O Brien: so will that be Liverpool 2.0.0 rebranded.
I was looking forward to seeing 83000 watching the telly and singing ynwa tears streaming down their faces in croke Park.
Absolutely embarrassing for Liverpool to not win the also rans competition of European football.
@paulie: Who do you support Paulie?
@ecrowley ecrowley: relevance?
@ecrowley ecrowley: easy there. He supports the team that came last in probably the easiest group in champions league history.
@Graham: again relevance
@paulie: I’m curious as to what team apart from City and Arsenal, are doing better than Liverpool. But you’re fair good at deflection.
@Graham: It couldn’t be Utd. He’s on about Liverpool embarrassing themselves vs Atalanta. There’s no way someone who supports Utd would be slagging Liverpool’s season. No way. He must support City or Arsenal.
@Graham: There’s no way he’s one of those leaky roofs explain awful performances fellas. They are the biggest thickos ever.
@ecrowley ecrowley: I’m not and haven’t said Liverpool aren’t “doing good” I simply and correctly said its a stunningly embarrassing not winning this second rate competition.
@paulie: Deflection. Still have answered my question.
@paulie: Munster by the sounds of it !!
@Matt Gilsenan: sorry fella haven’t a clue.
@ecrowley ecrowley: what’s the relevance of me talking about a team that wasn’t playing I’ll leave that to you fella
@paulie: I’ve already said I want to see what team has performed better or not have what you call embarrassing results this season. It’s a very fair and simple question. Therein lies the relevance. If you’re not prepared to say, I’m out.
@ecrowley ecrowley: so basically you want to try score schoolboy points and deflect from the point seriously.
@paulie: there are none so blind as those that will not see.
@ecrowley ecrowley: I clearly seen a club of Liverpools size sature financial power plus the playing pool available not winning the the consolidation competition of European football is stunningly embarrassing and tbh I think you agree but feel this rather unusual need to deny.
@paulie: deflection. Still haven’t answered my question. On a Liverpool article giving out about trying to score school boy points while trying to score school boy points. And you give out about Damo Leen. Jaysus, the wilfully blind irony. This is like beating my head off a wall.