Liverpool is still aiming for a treble this season. But Atalanta is too big a challenge for coach Klopp’s army.

Coach Klopp decided to put Salah and Diaz on the bench, creating conditions for Gakpo and Nunez to express themselves in the Europa League arena. Liverpool is in the Premier League race, so this is the period when it is necessary to rotate the squad.

But those disturbances caused the “Red Brigade” to no longer maintain its usual offensive power. Right at the beginning of the match, goalkeeper Kelleher had to use his face to save the Anfield team.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s good opportunities were squandered by Nunez. Even so, luck turned against them when Harvey Elliot’s shot in the 26th minute bounced off the crossbar, then hit the post.

Wasting the opportunity, Liverpool had to pay the price. In the 38th minute, a speedy and precise attack helped Atalanta open the score. Former Chelsea man Zappacosta stretched just enough for former West Ham striker Scamacca to finish dangerously, beating goalkeeper Kelleher.

After the break, Liverpool engrossed in attacking, leaving gaps for the opponent to exploit. In the 60th minute, striker Scamacca scored a double after an extremely delicate one-touch finish.

And in the 83rd minute, Szoboszlai’s disastrous mistake caused the “Red Brigade” to end the quarter-final first leg with a heavy 0-3 defeat. The two teams will rematch at 2:00 a.m. on April 19 (Hanoi time) in Italy.

Final score: Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta (H1: 0-1)

Scored: Scamacca 38′ – 60′, Pasalic 83′

Squad

Liverpool: Kelleher, Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Curtis Jones, Endo, Mac Allister, Elliot, Gakpo, Diaz

Atalanta: Musso, Hien, Djimsiti, Ruggeri, Zappacosta, Ederson, De Roon, Pasalic, Koopmeiners, De Ketelaere, Scamacca