The Liverpool boss felt his side lost the plot against La Dea, with Thursday night’s loss at Anfield leaving the Reds on the brink of Europa League elimination.
Jurgen Klopp did not stop short of criticising Liverpool’s performance in Thursday’s damaging 3-0 defeat by Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-final first leg.
Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta
The Bergamo-based club scored three times at Anfield, with former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca notching a brace and Mario Pasalic scoring an 83rd-minute goal to seal the Reds’ fate on the night and possibly in the tie.
What Klopp said after Liverpool’s loss to Atalanta
Klopp was disappointed with his team’s collapse and their egregious mishaps out of possession on Merseyside as Gian Piero Gasperini’s men rained on the German’s parade.
“It was just a really bad game, oh my God,” Klopp said. “We started really well, but we didn’t continue. We just lost the plot a bit. We were everywhere and nowhere. The midfield was spread out. I didn’t recognise us. It was really strange. In football terms, that’s tactical discipline.
“I cannot remember a situation where they outplayed us, but they won the ball and went from there. You need a lot of tactical discipline to do what they did. They did man-marking all over the pitch. Man-marking is uncomfortable when you are not on top of your game.
“If you are in a better playing mood than we were tonight then you can cause massive problems. We suffered from the way they defended.
“We deserved to lose and we must feel that now. The boys have this night to feel bad about it. Then we have to build up again for Crystal Palace (in the Premier League on Sunday). Congratulations Atalanta, really well done.”
What comes next for Liverpool?
With Klopp departing at the end of the ongoing season, Europa League elimination leaves Liverpool competing for the Premier League only, keen to add a second topflight title to this year’s EFL Cup success over Chelsea.
The Reds return to action on April 14 against Crystal Palace before next week’s reverse fixture to be played at Gewiss Stadium.
