Atalanta thrash Liverpool at Anfield

Atalanta stunned Liverpool with a sensational and well deserved 3-0 victory at Anfield. 

They squandered a golden opportunity to break the deadlock after only two minutes when the ball fell to Mario Pašalić just yards out after Harvey Elliot was dispossessed in an apparently foul challenge, but Caoimhin Kelleher made a brave save with his face/head to deny the midfielder the chance to open the scoring. 

La Dea continued to look threatening but Darwin Nuñez should have put the hosts ahead in the first half itself. Alex Mac Allister spotted the Uruguyan’s run to pin perfection, playing one through his path only to see the ball get chipped wide of the keeper. 

Elliot was in the thick of things, and almost scored with a stunning curled effort just before 45 minutes leaving Juan Musso all ends up. 

Atalanta went a goal ahead seven minutes before half-time as PL’s former men Davide Zappacota  and Gianluca Sacamacca combined together to ensure a two goal cushion. The full back passed the ball across the box to  the former West Ham man. 

Liverpool introduced Salah, Domestic Szoboszlai and Andy Roberston for the final 45 minutes of the match, and they quickly made their presence felt on the field. 

Robertson’s dangerous corner was headed over by skipper Virgil Van Dijk to find Salah whose  /effort was excellently stopped by Musso.   

Atalanta then scored another to take the hosts by surprise. Scamacca once again arrived at the box and tapped home a Charles De Ketelaere cross. He looked to be in an offside position. 

Teun Koopmeiners could have grabbed the third of the day minutes later as Gian Piero Gasperini’s men threatened to achieve the improbable. 

Salah thought he had pulled back for his team with only 10 minutes to go but was inches offside when he tapped in Robertson’s cross at the far post. 

Atalanta hit the third of the game and sealed the victory with six minutes to regulation time. Mario Pašalić scored his second of the game from a close range after Kelleher made the initial save from De Ketelaere. 

After registering a historic result, Gasperini will now be eager to close out the game (2nd leg) the following week.