Why Liverpool's shock loss to Atalanta could have a strange silver lining

The impact of Liverpool's 3-0 defeat at the hands of Atalanta in their Europa League quarter-final first-leg match at Anfield on Thursday night was felt all across Europe. While it dealt a major blow to Jurgen Klopp's chances of bowing out in style, it could also have some unexpected ramifications for their arch-rivals.

That's because, as a result of the surprise defeat, the Premier League now finds itself slipping behind in the battle for extra Champions League qualification spots.

With Aston Villa being the sole English club to register a win in European competition this week, defeating Lille in the Europa Conference League, the pressure mounts on the remaining English teams to step up their game or the fifth-placed side in the league won't qualify.

The defeat suffered by Liverpool, coupled with West Ham's 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen, has widened the gap between the Premier League and its European counterparts. Germany, in particular, received a boost with Leverkusen's victory bolstering their hopes of securing the coveted second spot in the UEFA coefficient table.

This will come as a blow to the likes of Manchester United, who are clinging onto the faint hope of clinching Champions League qualification via a fifth-placed finish.

Italy in pole position

The expanded format of the 2024/25 Champions League, featuring 36 teams, has intensified the competition for European berths. With the allocation of additional 'European Performance Spots' based on coefficients, every point earned in European competition becomes crucial for clubs and their respective leagues.

Italy currently holds the pole position in the coefficient standings following Atalanta's stunning triumph at Anfield. With four out of seven Italian teams still in contention in European competitions, Serie A clubs are poised to strengthen their position at the top.

Meanwhile, the situation for English clubs remains precarious. Despite Aston Villa's commendable performance in the Europa Conference League, the onus now falls on the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City to deliver in the Champions League and narrow the gap in the coefficient race.

While Liverpool's defeat is a major disappointment, it could yet be a strange silver lining if it proves to be what denies their rivals a return to Europe's top competition next year.