Liverpool’s hopes of giving Jurgen Klopp a dream send-off in the Europa League final in Dublin next month are uncertain.
The Reds boss has announced he is leaving the club at the end of the season, and his players were eager to extend the season to May 22 when the final of Europe’s second-tier competition takes place.
However, a shocking 3-0 home defeat by Atalanta in the quarter-final first leg has put those plans in jeopardy.
Klopp, who has led Liverpool to three Champions League finals – winning it in 2019 – appeared bewildered at the final whistle and applauded fans as he disappeared down the tunnel.
But was this his final European game at Anfield? Liverpool suffered their first home defeat since February 2023, ending their 33-game unbeaten run.
Liverpool’s performance was riddled with mistakes and poor marking as they endured their joint-heaviest defeat at home in major European competition.
Atalanta took full advantage with a ruthless display and will be strong favorites to progress to the semi-finals when the sides meet for the second leg in Italy.
“They were arguably the worst I have ever seen them [under Klopp],” said former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock.
Klopp offered no excuses for the poor performance and hopes it’s just a blip rather than anything more worrying.
Liverpool have little time to recover from this setback with games coming thick and fast.
The Reds face Crystal Palace on Sunday before heading to Italy for the second leg against Atalanta.
Liverpool, however, have a history of turning around first-leg deficits in European competition, and Klopp and his players will still believe they can rescue the situation.
