Under-fire Liverpool star was excellent first half, then ghosted against Atalanta

Liverpool faced a tough challenge in their Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday night at Anfield, losing 3-0 to Serie A side Atalanta.

Despite entering the match with high expectations due to their strong performance in the Premier League, Liverpool delivered a lackluster performance, resulting in a significant setback against the Italian team, currently ranked sixth in their league.

The match saw Atalanta take control early, with Gianluca Scamacca scoring the opener in the 38th minute with a swift finish under Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, following a cross from Davide Zappacosta.

Scamacca doubled the lead in the 60th minute, exploiting ample space provided by Liverpool’s defence to net his second goal.

The situation worsened for Liverpool when Mario Pasalic added a third, tapping in after an initial strike from Ederson, with Liverpool’s defence appearing unresponsive.

The night ended in disappointment for the Reds, with several players underperforming significantly.

Cody Gakpo looked promising but tailed off once again

One player facing huge criticism recently is Cody Gakpo, who has found it difficult to find his groove. His form has been a concern for weeks now.

Last night appeared to be a turning point for him as in the first half, he was finding space, slipping past players and showing the gentle touch we love from him.

However, just like the rest of the team, that spark disappeared towards the end of the first half and was entirely absent after the interval, leaving fans perplexed again.

Sky Sports analyst Jay Bothroyd offered a pointed critique during the broadcast, particularly targeting Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo for his lack of impact.

Bothroyd noted: “Gakpo needs to get involved in the game. He hasn’t done much at all.”

Despite this, Gakpo's performance did find some defenders among fans online, with some noting his efforts with stats including winning 11 ground duels, completing five dribbles, and making five key passes.

Despite the poor performance and the daunting 3-0 deficit, Liverpool’s history of remarkable comebacks in European competitions offers a glimmer of hope as they prepare for the challenging return leg in Bergamo.

The Reds have previously overturned a 3-0 deficit, reminding fans and players alike that all is not lost.