BERNSTEIN: Klopp gamble backfires as his dream of a winning UEL farewell at risk
Klopp’s gamble in making six changes to his Liverpool line-up backfired as West Ham misfit Gianluca Scamacca struck in each half – the first resulting from a bad error by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
With the Anfield atmosphere less colourful than usual as part of a fans’ protest, the Europa League favourites struggled forcing Klopp to make a triple change at half-time – including the introduction of Mo Salah.
By then, Atalanta led when Scamacca’s speculative strike squirmed under the body of Kelleher. And the big Italian, who was part of West Ham’s Europa Conference-winning campaign last season, extended the visitor’s lead with a cute first-time finish after an hour.
Liverpool’s task of clawing back a first-leg deficit was then made much harder when Mario Pasalic added a late third – putting Klopp’s dream of a winning farewell in a Dublin final at more than serious risk.
Though the Europa League is not the glossiest title Jurgen Klopp is going for this season, the Liverpool manager has a sentimental connection with the competition, citing his run to the final in 2016 as the first step towards his success at Anfield.
He made wholesale alterations last night with the Premier League title race in mind, with Mo Salah among those on the substitutes bench, where he was joined by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota following a couple of months out with injury.
Absent altogether were the customary flags on the Kop, a protest from fans against the club raising season ticket prices for next season.
The only banner displayed was No To Ticket Price Increases in red letters on a white background and that was removed before the first whistle in accordance with Klopp’s wishes that the protest shouldn’t be a distraction during gametime.
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