Jurgen Klopp said that Liverpool “lost the plot” and advised his players to “go home and sleep badly” after a 3-0 Europa League defeat to Atalanta.
Klopp lamented the poor performance, expressing his disbelief at how his side lost their way during the match.
“It was a really bad game, oh my God,” said the Liverpool manager. “We started really well but didn’t continue. Before they scored we just lost the plot. We were everywhere and nowhere. Midfield was spread like that, right midfield and left midfield, I didn’t recognise it a bit. it was really strange. In football terms, that’s tactical discipline. But we had a big chance from Darwin [Núñez] and were unlucky with Harvey [Elliott] and then they scored a goal and we kept playing into their hands.
“We played a bad game, we deserved to lose and we must feel that now. But the boys have exactly this night to feel bad about and then we have to build up again for the Crystal Palace game. That’s how it is. A lot of performances tonight were really ‘oops, wow, I didn’t know they could play like that. A lot of the players looked really alone in a lot of moments. It was really bad. In this moment it must feel bad. The lads must go home and sleep badly. Congratulations to Atalanta, really well done.”
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Klopp’s decision to make six changes to the starting lineup spectacularly backfired and despite bringing on key players like Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, Liverpool failed to overturn the deficit. Yet the manager remained defiant about his starting XI choices and emphasised the need for squad rotation amid a hectic schedule, especially with Liverpool competing in a tight Premier League title race.
“I get the question 100 per cent if we lose a game, that’s how it is – the changes,” he defended. “But one of the reasons I would do exactly the same again is because if we want to be good in the rest of the season, we have to make changes. ‘I am responsible for this result first, I know that. But the decision (about the starting line-up) would remain the same.”
Liverpool did overturn a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona to reach the Champions League final. However, Klopp remained cautious and refrained from making bold predictions. “Can we win 3-0? I have no idea,” he added.
Liverpool will need a strong collective effort and a significant improvement in their performance if they are to keep their Europa League aspirations alive. Before that, they need to get three points against Crystal Palace on Sunday as the Premier League title race heats up.
