Liverpool FC News: 3-0 Atalanta defeat matches unwanted record

Liverpool's shock 3-0 defeat to Atalanta was the Reds' joint-heaviest loss at home in major European competitions.

A rotated Reds side came undone at Anfield on Thursday night and were fortunate to go into half time only a goal down as a result of Gianluca Scamacca's strike.

While Liverpool dominated on possession, sloppy individual errors and questionable tactics left them wide open and the former West Ham striker forward doubled his and Atalanta's tally midway into the second half before Mario Pasalic made it three late on.

READ MORE: 5 talking points from Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Atalanta

Speaking after the final whistle on a humbling night that leaves Liverpool's European trophy hopes hanging by a thread, Jurgen Klopp admitted he had "nothing positive to say about the game."

As a measure of just how poor the night was, it officially ranks as the club's worst home defeat in Europe alongside the 3-0 vs Real Madrid in 2014/15 and 5-2 vs the same opponents in 2022/23.

The return leg in Bergamo next Thursday will be an underwhelming final European game in charge of the Reds for Klopp, unless of course his side are able to pull off a stunning comeback.

On that topic, Klopp told TNT Sports: "Can we win in Bergamo? Yes if we play good. Can we win 3-0? I have no idea. But that’s not important at the moment. We now have to recover and we must feel really, really bad. That’s important."

Before travelling to Italy next week, Liverpool take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League this Sunday, with Klopp's men needing to switch focus to the Premier League title race.

“I know the boys can play better football but they didn’t do it tonight. They have to show a reaction on Sunday. I’m pretty sure they will do that,” the manager added.