Atalanta vs Liverpool - score, goals and commentary stream (2024)

Goodnight, arrivederci

Goodnight and arrivederci from the Gewiss Stadium.

Liverpool's Europa League hopes are over and it might be some time before they are back in this competition.

And let's be honest, with Champions League almost certain to be back on the agenda, that is no bad thing.

So bye for now, we'll be back tomorrow with build up to Fulham. There's still a Premier League title to win, after all...

Verdict is in

The Ian Doyle verdict is in:

Forget miracles. Now Liverpool have no option but to cope with a dose of cold, harsh reality as they prepare for the final weeks of Jurgen Klopp’s reign.

The dream of a Europa League final farewell and the Reds boss completing the set of major honours under his tenure may have realistically been extinguished during the harrowing first leg at Anfield a week ago.

But it would be pushing matters to suggest this return in Bergamo pointed to what might have been for Liverpool, despite earning themselves some solace of victory on the night and ending a run of successive defeats.

Read it here in full.

Ratings in

Ian Doyle's post-match ratings are in:

Alisson Becker 7

Cleaned up a couple of pieces of scrappy defending from Liverpool first half and saved solidly from Ederson and Koopmeiners after interval.

Trent Alexander-Arnold 7

Making his first start in more than two months, won the early penalty and passing caused real problems for Atalanta defence. Got away with one dozy bit of defending, however, and understandably tired a bit later on. Subbed.

Ibrahima Konate 6

Very shaky when in possession during opening stages but defended competently if not always convincingly."

You can catch them all here.

Full time: Atalanta 0-1 Liverpool (Atalanta win 3-1 on aggregate)

Jurgen Klopp's European adventures as Reds boss are over. A Champions League-winning coach bows out of the Europa League quarter-final stage to Italy's sixth best team and they can have no complaints.

Danns on his way

Jayden Danns is coming on. Andy Robertson makes way.

Gomez on

Joe Gomez comes on for Trent Alexander-Arnold.

No major surprise even if the Reds are losing a creative spark.

Subs ahoy

Diaz, Salah and Szoboszlai off for Jota, Nunez and Elliott.

Not sure I'd have taken off Salah, but he wasn't at his best there.

Atalanta joy

Koopmeiners has a strong shot on the turn that Alisson saves. Atalanta inevitably getting a bit more joy as Liverpool have to start pushing forward and take some risks.

No need to be too hurried...yet

Liverpool don't need to be too hurried yet, there's still well over half an hour to play here. No sign of the subs yet.

Alexander-Arnold doing a lot

Fair play to Alexander-Arnold, he's had a really good game on his first start in over two months. He's barely featured in 2024 too but you wouldn't know it. Charging on attempting to break through. How long until we see the subs arrive though? The hour mark might be the one for that.

Another Liverpool let-off

Big chance for Atalanta but Ederson hits it straight at Alisson. They were queuing up and got in each other's way.

Second half under way

Miranchuk gets things started in the second half. Liverpool still need another two goals to at the very least take this to extra time - while not conceding any. Not a simple task.

Half-time ratings

Alisson Becker 7

Cleaned up a couple of pieces of scrappy defending from Liverpool but no real saves first half.

Trent Alexander-Arnold 8

Making his first start in more than two months, won the early penalty and passing caused real problems for Atalanta defence.

Ibrahima Konate 6

Very shaky when in possession during opening stages but defended competently if not always convincingly.

Virgil van Dijk 6

Sustained a hand injury early on and didn’t quite look comfortable for the remainder of the first half.

Andy Robertson 6

Raided forward regularly down the left before the break and was even furthest man forward on occasion.

Alexis Mac Allister 7

Given a lot to do back as the number six but nicked the ball regularly off raiding Atalanta players.

Dominik Szoboszlai 6

Fired one shot at Musso first half but otherwise frustrated with some slack distribution in promising areas.

Curtis Jones 6

Another to infuriate before interval when his care in possession was too often stymied by losing the ball needlessly.

Mohamed Salah 6

Tucked away the early penalty confidently but guilty of bad miss before half-time and made too many wrong choices.

Cody Gakpo 7

Dropped deep regularly and caused Atalanta real issues with his strength and willingness to run with the ball and quick flicks.

Luis Diaz 6

Some moments of promise and a lot of hard work before break but unable to make huge impact.

Good half

A really good half for Liverpool by comparison to most of their opening 45s this season. Still well in it. All a bit frantic at times though, a bit of calm could go a long way. Pitch doesn't seem great to me, bouncing all over the place. Jota and Nunez on the bench could be crucial.

Half-time: Atalanta 0-1 Liverpool (Agg 3-1)

Well, they've scored one. But Liverpool still have a fair bit to do in the second half.

Atalanta booking

Hien booked for a handball when Salah pass looked to send Diaz clear. Liverpool think it should be red and Diaz booked for complaining about it.

Lucky escape

Alexander-Arnold is robbed on the edge of the area but Atalanta can't quite get it right and Alisson boots it away. Then Atalanta score but it's a clear offside.

Salah miscue

Could be a major moment in this game as Mo Salah miscues an admittedly difficult lift over Musso from about 20 yards or so. The goalkepeer was stranded and the ball was bouncing but he is good enough to stick that away. A second before half time feels like it would be huge here. Liverpool have generally been poor in first halves so this is a positive. As I type Koopmeiners has scored but he is offside. The flag went up quickly. Well offside.

Oh no Mo, why so?

Salah is sent racing away by Gakpo but gets his lobbed finish all wrong and it drops well wide. Massive chance.

Alexander-Arnold, brilliant

Unbelievable ball from Alexander-Arnold to get Gakpo away but Salah can't find Diaz with a threaded ball. That's what Liverpool have missed while their vice captain has been sidelined though, defence to attack in one, wonderful pass. He can make the difference tonight if he can get on the ball more.

Plenty of action

Musso comes miles out of his area and hits a clearance at Van Dijk, whose attempted shot from miles out almost spins behind him and sets Atalanta away. Then a great Alexander-Arnold pass releases Gakpo for a chance where Salah can't quite put Diaz in.

Better possession needed

Liverpol are continuing to have the greater of possession but are giving the ball away a bit needlessly at times.

Indeedm Miranchuk drags a shot wide for Atalanta after some indecisive defending with the Reds having given the ball away in midfield.

Bouncing around

This game, weirdly, hasn't really got going yet. Both teams can't really get hold of the ball and there is plenty of tempo but not much control or possession, for either side. Liverpool look sharp but there's a frantic quality to it all at this stage. The chance to settle into more of a steady pattern will help calm things down a bit here.

Half an opening

Jones tries to head it back at far post into the danger zone from Alexander-Arnold cross but no Liverpool player can get on the end of it. Half an opening.

The Reds have had a few moments where they've needlessly given the ball away, but otherwise the opening quarter has very much gone their way.

Alisson goes for a wander

Alisson that far out of his goal that he's in the centre-circle as he makes a pass forward. Can't help but think that isn't in the gameplan this evening - gets a quick reminder from Klopp that he's a goalkeeper... which is just as well as he has to save at feet of Miranchuk.

Some tempo

Quite the tempo to this game in the early going. We know this suits Liverpool and they look sharp. Szoboszlai has just worked Musso with a 25-yard strike and Gakpo almost slipped in Diaz with a lovely flick that brought the keeper rushing out. It's been a bold, positive opening here from the visitors.

Chances for Liverpool again

Diaz denied by Musso brave save after Gakpo flick and then Szoboszlai has shot from range the keeper saves.

The Reds have looked rather good going forward, it must be said.

Early goal

Well I said Liverpool needed to not start badly and they have actually started superbly. Mo Salah's goal from the penalty is just what the doctor will have ordered. It came from Ruggeri handling an Alexander-Arnold cross.

GOAL! Atalanta 0-1 Liverpool (Salah pen)

It's there!

Penalty!

Liverpool have a penalty after a handball by Ruggeri from Alexander-Arnold cross.