Barring another of the remarkable comebacks that have decorated Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign, his final European game at Anfield will have featured a flat performance and atmosphere, resignation to defeat and a divide between fans and club; everything, that is, that goes against the culture he has created over the past nine years. Rediscovering the spark and belief required to win a Premier League title, however, is the Liverpool manager’s more pressing concern.
Liverpool hit a wall against Atalanta on Thursday that was not entirely of the Italian club’s making. That is to take nothing away from an exemplary display by Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, who demonstrated throughout a comfortable 3-0 victory why they are unbeaten in 11 Europa League away fixtures. Atalanta, sixth in Serie A, were clinical, tactically astute and commanding in defence against what was ultimately a four-man Liverpool attack. Their defensive organisation will be a formidable obstacle to Liverpool’s hopes of recovery next week in Bergamo, where Klopp’s team won 5-0 in a Champions League group game during the dark days of Covid in November 2020. Rhys Williams and Joe Gomez were Liverpool’s central defenders that night. But that was then.
