PODCAST: Atalanta 0 Liverpool 1 - Match Reaction

[tlw content]

The Reds bowed out of Europe with barely a whimper. Technically they won on the night, but nobody was fooled by that as Atalanta out-thought and out-fought Klopp's side, who once again failed to muster a goal from open play.

 

Chris Smith is joined by John Brennan and TLW Editor Dave Usher to briefly pick through the bones of this stinker before trying to lift the mood a little by reminiscing about some of our greatest European moments under Jurgen.

 

 

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[johnsusername]

[No2]

Good pod lads. What a weird game, first half we were good I thought, Mo's miss was criminal but the bigger issue is how we folded after that.

 

It was like last week, we looked clueless, flummoxed was the word I used last week and I think it applies again for the 2nd half. We simply didn't know what to do, I assume Atalanta dropped much deeper to stop those Trent long passes and after that we literally had no plan. The management team have to share as much of that blame as the players. Every change we made us worse, Gakpo at left back? What was that about? 

 

[Kevin D]

I was at the Echo for the Spurs final, so imagine my horror at finding out you were all there, too.

[dave u]

You're probably the cunt who stepped on Paul's glasses.

[JustTosh]

To me these two games were more Gasperini vs Klopp than it was Atalanta vs Liverpool, and Gasperini totally humiliated Klopp.

 

If we were surprised at Anfield, and we shouldn't have been, surely we'd sort it out for the next game, No we didn't. Other than shuffle our front men around from right to left, to midfield and back up front, probably trying to disrupt their man-man defense, we really had no clue.

 

They pressed with four players and had at least 2 more forllowing our midfielders dropping deep in the build up. That should make them vunerable at the back. Apart from a few long passes, normally from Trent, we never took advantage of what shoudl have been a risky defence plan.

 

 

 

 

[JeanMichelFerriacrosstheMersey]

Excuse me while I wipe a tear from my eye having listened to the last bit of this episode in which the lads reflected on Klopp's European era. Beautiful sentiments from Chris and the perfect summation from Dave - It's been the most fun he, and many of us, have had watching Liverpool, ever. Shame John B had to ruin it all by banging on about the Nazis ;)

 

In all seriousness, I was fortunate enough to be at most of the big European games under Klopp, home and away, and it's almost impossible to describe how special they were - Dortmund, City, Roma, Barcelona, Spurs in Madrid and even Kyiv; occasions that will live with me forever and which we should all be grateful for. Fans of practically every other club would kill for just one of those nights; we had loads, and the glorious memories will last long after the increasing pain of this season has passed. 

 

If, like the lads, I had to pick my favourite European goal under Klopp, it would probably be Divock's in Madrid. I was right behind the goal where he smashed the ball past Hugo Lloris and will never forget the feeling of knowing that we had definitely won a sixth European Cup. That I was surrounded by mates and celebrated with each and every one of them only added to the magic. The following morning it was back home via Alicante and I'm pretty sure I didn't stop smiling for the entire journey - and for the rest of that summer. 

 

Thank you Jurgen. It's been one hell of a ride. X

[Chris]

40 minutes ago, JeanMichelFerriacrosstheMersey said:

Excuse me while I wipe a tear from my eye having listened to the last bit of this episode in which the lads reflected on Klopp's European era. Beautiful sentiments from Chris and the perfect summation from Dave - It's been the most fun he, and many of us, have had watching Liverpool, ever. Shame John B had to ruin it all by banging on about the Nazis ;)

 

In all seriousness, I was fortunate enough to be at most of the big European games under Klopp, home and away, and it's almost impossible to describe how special they were - Dortmund, City, Roma, Barcelona, Spurs in Madrid and even Kyiv; occasions that will live with me forever and which we should all be grateful for. Fans of practically every other club would kill for just one of those nights; we had loads, and the glorious memories will last long after the increasing pain of this season has passed. 

 

If, like the lads, I had to pick my favourite European goal under Klopp, it would probably be Divock's in Madrid. I was right behind the goal where he smashed the ball past Hugo Lloris and will never forget the feeling of knowing that we had definitely won a sixth European Cup. That I was surrounded by mates and celebrated with each and every one of them only added to the magic. The following morning it was back home via Alicante and I'm pretty sure I didn't stop smiling for the entire journey - and for the rest of that summer. 

 

Thank you Jurgen. It's been one hell of a ride. X

 

Beautiful post, mate. 

[Kevin D]

11 minutes ago, Chris said:

 

Beautiful post, mate. 

What about mine?

[dylstar]

30 minutes ago, Chris said:

 

Beautiful post, mate. 

 

19 minutes ago, Kevin D said:

What about mine?

Reckon JeanMichelFerriacrosstheMersey was pissed when he wrote that

[JeanMichelFerriacrosstheMersey]

37 minutes ago, Chris said:

 

Beautiful post, mate. 

 

Cheers pal. 

[Bobby Hundreds]

It's been said for a while but we just aren't learning our lessons and we've been getting plenty of them. The way we play you have to wonder when the players are void of confidence and energy does the high risk high reward style cause more risk than reward.

 

Personally I don't think we have enough bodies at the back and too many up top when we are in ruts like this. It doesn't feel like something that just switches and that's it we are back, it feels we need to be more practical, defensive and build confidence back. That said there's only 6 games so fuck it what can you do. I think we are spent.

[JohnnyH]

Can you start doing some pods about us winning please?

[JohnnyH]

Switched off at “poppycock”.