Liverpool were well beaten by Atalanta across a poor Europa League quarter-final for the Reds.
In reality, the damage was done a week ago in the first-leg at Anfield. Stunned by the Italian side’s man-marking tactics, Liverpool simply crumbled.
Having been beaten 3-0 on home turf, it was always going to be a big ask for Jurgen Klopp’s team to go to Bergamo and get through.
At the bare minimum, Liverpool will have hoped to have gained back some pride and won the game on the night. And that’s what they managed to do, sneaking a 1-0 win courtesy of Mohamed Salah penalty.
However, the Reds never looked like scoring any more beyond that, Trent Alexander-Arnold admitting that that he and the team ‘ran out of juice.’ The result meant a first European semi-final for Atalanta since 1988, and of course they celebrated it accordingly.
Atalanta send Liverpool message
It can often be galling to watch fans and players of those that have just beaten you celebrate into the night. Especially when they weren’t expected to win.
But there is plenty to like about Atalanta, and as a result, we can’t begrudge them their full-time celebrations.
And in amongst the carnage, they did find time to send a classy message to the team on the other end of their historic victory.
Taking to X after the game, the Serie A club’s official account shared two Liverpool-based pictures. One was of Klopp, applauding to the stands after the game. The other of Ibrahima Konate and Harvey Elliott following behind their manager, hands together in appreciation.
“Respect,” wrote the Atalanta account, alongside a raised fist and a clapping emoji. With Liverpool’s account tagged into the post, we think a new friendship may have just been formed.
Classy touch from a classy club
Call us sentimental, old-fashioned, lame, whatever you want. In our opinion, this is exactly how European football should be.
Liverpool were of course huge favourites to get through against Atalanta, and other clubs might have been tempted to poke fun at the Reds’ downfall. But the Italian’s recognised that with Klopp on the way out, Liverpool are hurting a little.
As one of this generation’s best managers, it’s great to see the respect that Jurgen demands from clubs all around the continent. We’re going to miss that.
Some will not have liked Klopp’s recent assertion that he collects relationships instead of trophies [Sky Sports]. But this is the kind of thing he was referring to. There is much to be said about links like these being built and football is all the better for it. Good luck for the rest of the competition, Atalanta.