April 19 – Liverpool were dumped out of the Europa League on Thursday night after being unable to reverse the 3-0 deficit from the first leg in the quarter-final versus Atalanta.
It marked the end of a poor week of European club football for the Premier League’s three leading clubs with Arsenal and Manchester City also exiting UEFA competition at the last eight.
Despite dominating the first half and Salah converting an early penalty, Liverpool were incapable of overturning the deficit. Their 1-0 victory marked the final European match of Klopp’s tenure in glum style.
“We didn’t lose the tie tonight, we lost it at home last week,” said the Liverpool manager. “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.”
Liverpool star Salah has faced challenges coming back from a lengthy injury, the first significant injury of his Liverpool tenure. However, Klopp dismissed concerns about the Egyptian international’s form.
“I’m not particularly concerned,” he claimed. “That’s what strikers do. We have to go through it, he has to go through it. He is one of most experienced players in the squad. It’s not that Mo didn’t miss chances before in his life, that’s part of the game. The penalty was super convincing, then the next chance was unlucky, but it’s not the first time he has missed chances like that. I won’t make a big story of it.”
Atalanta will face Marseille in the semi-finals in May, after the French side beat Benfica on penalties.
Elsewhere in the quarters, Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, who were crowned Bundesliga champions for the first time at the weekend, kept their unbeaten record in tact with a late equaliser against West Ham. Despite drawing 1-1 on the night, Leverkusen progressed to the semis on an aggregate score of 3-1. With Liverpool out of the competition, Leverkusen are firm favourites to lift the trophy.
They face Roma in the next round, who themselves impressed versus AC Milan with a 3-1 aggregate score. they won both legs of the quarters, despite defender Celik receiving a red card in the first half on Thursday night.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734875759labto1734875759ofdlr1734875759owedi1734875759sni@g1734875759niwe.1734875759yrrah1734875759