Liverpool crashed out of Europa League quarter-finals. The Merseysiders beat Atalanta away in Bergamo by the minimum 1:0, but this success could not compensate for the 0:3 loss at "Anfield" a week ago, Topsport reported.
The only goal in the match was the work of Mohamed Salah from a penalty in the seventh minute.
The match started excellently for Liverpool, who very early got to a goal. Salah restored the visitors' hopes of a turnaround with a penalty in the seventh minute. The penalty was awarded for a handball on Ruggeri. This hit worried Gasperini's team and the "red" they quickly reached a new opportunity. Diaz was brought out by Gakpo, but goalkeeper Muso's intervention prevented the goal.
Alisson also had to intervene after a cross was dangerously deflected by Van Dijk towards his own goal. However, an ambush was also condemned in the situation. Merseysiders, however, were definitely the more active team and dominated. The home defense managed to do well on several occasions, and Musso also intervened decisively on more than one occasion.
Shortly before the break, Salah missed an incredible opportunity to double Liverpool's lead. He was brought out magnificently by Gakpo and went out alone against the keeper. The Egyptian tried to cross Musso, but missed the goal and wasted an excellent chance. Atalanta responded with a Koopminers goal that was disallowed due to offside.
At the beginning of the second half, the Bergamo team reached a dangerous situation in front of Alisson after another breakthrough by Dzapacosta, which caused many problems for the visitors' defense. Ederson's shot, however, did not make it particularly difficult for the Merseyside goalkeeper. "The Reds" missed another opportunity in the 55th minute. Then Gakpo was brought behind the defense. The Dutchman was in a difficult position and failed to shoot, a combination followed and Salah's final shot, but he was in an ambush.
After an hour of play, Liverpool seemed to stop believing that a turnaround was possible and the hosts were much more successful in resisting any attempts by the opponent to attack. At the same time, Gasperini's team organized several good attacks. However, they ended with an error on the last pass or a weak shot. Koopminers shot in one of them, and in another case Skamaka ended the attack with an inaccurate shot.
The visitors' manager, Jurgen Klopp, tried to inject more dynamism into his squad with several substitutions, which, however, did not have the desired effect and Atalanta calmly held on to their overall lead to secure a place in the semi-finals.