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Another bad night for Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp’s side defeated Atalanta in their Europa League quarter-final second leg but could not overturn the 3-0 deficit they racked up from a horrible first-leg performance at Anfield last week.

They got the dream start they needed courtesy of Mohamed Salah’s early penalty but despite an improved display, Atalanta did not buckle and they duly progressed to the semi-finals.

We analyse the main talking points in Bergamo, as Liverpool face up to just having one competition to focus on in the final weeks of the season.

Can this side rouse themselves in the title race?

It was not so long ago that the stars appeared to be aligning for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool in their final months together.

Six Premier League games remain for Liverpool to overtake Manchester City at the top of the table and something close to perfection is going to be needed if the title is to be wrestled back.

That currently looks beyond Klopp’s side.

Too many chances are being wasted and this was another contest that fizzled out against an opponent that was deserving of its place in the semi-finals.

The Premier League trips to Fulham on Sunday and Everton next Wednesday have to bring maximum returns or the Klopp era will be destined to end in deflating fashion.

Phil Buckingham

Should Klopp consider resting Salah?

When you are searching for an evening of miracles in an attempt to overturn a 0-3 deficit, you typically want your best players on the field.

So, why was Mohamed Salah — Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer in Europe — substituted after 67 minutes with Liverpool just 1-0 up (1-3 down in the tie)?

Keep starting Salah to allow him to regain his rhythm, or take the Egyptian out of the starting line-up in an attempt to rest him and reset his performances?

His standards have been so astronomical over the years, that anything below his elite heights has looked jarringly notable in recent games.

Mark Carey

What impact did Alexander-Arnold make?

Liverpool can count their blessings to have discovered Conor Bradley’s readiness to step up in 2024 but the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold has restored a lost dimension to Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The right-back started his first game in over two months after recovering from his troublesome knee injury and his performance against Atalanta served as a reminder for what Liverpool have missed.

Trent Alexander-Arnold made a difference for Liverpool (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Alexander-Arnold was key to the purposeful start that offered up the promise of a comeback.

Not every pass came off but his range troubled Atalanta, an opponent that had consistently caused problems for Bradley seven days earlier.

Alexander-Arnold was not perfect, which is forgivable given he had not come through 90 minutes since early January, but he did help take Atalanta to places they had hoped to avoid.

Phil Buckingham

How attack rotations worked for Liverpool

In Liverpool’s forgettable first leg at Anfield, a lot of the frustration in their performance was that they were not able to play their usual game due to Atalanta’s relentless man-marking.

Whatever the outcome of the second leg, Jurgen Klopp was keen to ensure that they did not suffer the same frustration in Bergamo.

Cody Gakpo started as the central forward but would frequently drift over to the left and rotate with Luis Diaz, while other times he would drop deep to flick the ball forward to the onrushing Diaz or Mohamed Salah — who himself was picking up positions in central areas.

The rotations on the ball did sometimes mean that Liverpool were a little open themselves when losing possession, but the overall approach was streets ahead of their performance last Thursday.

Mark Carey

What next for Liverpool?

Sunday, April 21: Fulham (A), Premier League, 4.30pm UK, 11.30am ET

Liverpool know they simply cannot afford any more slip-ups in the Premier League title race, so the pressure is on for the trip to Craven Cottage on Sunday.
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