LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 11: A dejected Diogo Jota of Liverpool during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Quarter-Final first leg match between Liverpool FC and Atalanta at Anfield on April 11, 2024 in Liverpool, England.(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Liverpool are facing a Europa League exit after losing 3-0 to Atalanta in their quarter-final first leg at Anfield.
Joe Gomez, Ibrahim Konate, Kostas Tsimikas, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Cody Gakpo were recalled to the Reds line-up after the draw with Manchester United on Sunday.Liverpool had a great chance to break the deadlock inside 15 minutes when Darwin Nunez raced clear on goal from Jones' through-ball but sent his attempted chip over the goalkeeper and wide of the mark.
The dominance continued as the half went on, with the woodwork coming to Atalanta's rescue on 27 minutes after Harvey Elliot's strike hit the crossbar.
The opening goal did arrive in the 38th minute but it was Atalanta who got the breakthrough when Davide Zappacosta's low cross was turned home by Gianluca Scamacca, who has now scored in his last four games.
The hosts made a triple change at halftime, as coach Jurgen Klopp introduced Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai for Elliot, Tsimikas and Jones.
The changes did not make the immediate and the hosts fell further behind in the 60th minute when Scamacca bagged his second goal on the night by turning home Charles De Ketelaere's well-weighted cross.
Liverpool thought they had pulled a goal back in the 79th minute but Salah, who turned home Robertson's cross, was flagged offside by the assistant referee.
However, Atalanta piled more misery on the English counterparts when they bagged a third goal with seven minutes left on the clock when Caoimhin Kelleher parried Ederson's shot into the path of Mario Pašalic, who made no mistake from six yards.
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