Atalanta pulled off a huge upset in the Europa League on Thursday evening. The team of coach Gian Piero Gasperini was too strong for Liverpool at Anfield with 0-3. Gianluca Scamacca was the big man on the Italian side. The former Jong PSV and PEC Zwolle player scored two goals and was important in the third goal. For Liverpool it meant the first defeat at Anfield since February 21 last year.

Jürgen Klopp sent a much changed team onto the field compared to last weekend's Premier League match against Manchester United. For example, there was a starting place for Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott and Mohamed Salah started on the bench.

A big surprise on Atalanta's side was Juan Musso. The reserve goalkeeper, who also played against Sporting Portugal in the eighth finals, kept Marco Carnesecchi on the bench. Furthermore, there were of course starting places for Marten de Roon and Teun Koopmeiners.

Atalanta performed surprisingly well at Anfield and played with confidence in the first fifteen minutes. Mario Pasalic should have opened the scoring after just four minutes, but his effort in front of an open goal ended up right in the face of CaoimhÃn Kelleher.

Liverpool did have some small opportunities, but Klopp's team did not become really dangerous. It was Atalanta that brutally took the lead on the stroke of half time, when Kelleher did not get clear on a Scamacca bet: 0-1.

The score could have been doubled not much later, had it not been for Kelleher's good save this time. The Irishman, replacing Alisson Becker, prevented Koopmeiners from scoring.

Klopp had seen enough after 45 minutes and brought on Salah, Andrew Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai to save the furniture. The Egyptian immediately had a good shooting opportunity, but saw his effort saved in the short corner.

Barely a minute later, Darwin Núnez also had an opportunity to level the score, but his shot on a pass from Gakpo went over. Atalanta waited patiently and came out when it could.

Gasperini's battle plan led to the 0-2 after an hour of play. The preparatory work came from Charles De Ketelaere and again Scamacca was the final station. The striker suddenly hit behind Kelleher.

However, Liverpool did not give in and seemed to level the score fifteen minutes before the end through Salah. The substitute scored on a pass from Robertson, who had also come on, but did so in an offside position.

As if the evening wasn't unpleasant enough for Liverpool, Pasalic also contributed on behalf of the visitors. The midfielder was quick to put a rebound into the goal behind Kelleher: 0-3.

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