Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp laments the “unrecognisable” team performance as their complacency proved costly against Atalanta in the first leg
Jurgen Klopp acknowledged that Liverpool deserved to lose against Atalanta in the first leg as complacency continues to haunt them. Atalanta beat the Reds 0-3 at Anfield in the first leg of the Europa League on Thursday.
Liverpool had 19 shots with five shots on target compared to Atalanta’s 11 shots with 7 on target. The stats show the number of chances that the Reds wasted in front of the goal throughout the game.
Furthermore, the build-up plays from defence to midfield and attack lacked the desired pace that annoyed the Anfield crowd. Atalanta exploited the slow movement of the ball by making the right pressing moves and stealing possession in dangerous areas.
Liverpool used their usual pressing game to regain possession, enjoying 71% of possession throughout the game. However, they showed complacency in defensive phases when the players away from the pressing area failed to stay organised.
Klopp told the reporters (h/t Sky Sports) that the team lost the plot and Atalanta deserved to win the game. He said:
“It was a really bad game, oh my God. They broke, they scored and we just lost the plot a little bit. We were here and there in midfield, I didn’t recognise it. It was really strange but in football terms it was tactical discipline. They scored and we kept playing into their hands. We played a bad game and we deserved to lose. We must feel that now but we have exactly this night to feel bad about it and then we have to build up for (Crystal) Palace.”
Atalanta players rightfully punished Liverpool for not taking the fixture seriously and lacking the professionalism to maintain discipline. The Reds crashed out of the FA Cup against Manchester United similarly as they self-destruct.
They drew 2-2 to Man United in the Premier League game after dominating the first half of the match. The reoccurring complacency in front of goal and during defending is undoing all the hard work they have done.
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Klopp needs to rally the team ahead of crucial fixtures in the Premier League as they are still in the title race. However, Liverpool players should take the majority of the accountability for sabotaging their season at such a crucial stage. Liverpool fans are fine with players making new mistakes but recurring mistakes only mean that they are not respecting the gravity of the situation they are in.
