Another evening, another potential series of fixtures featuring English sides getting their ar$e handed to them by the rest of the pesky European elite! After Arsenal and Manchester City were sent tumbling out of the Champions League on Wednesday, our attention turns to the Europa League, where things are also looking dire for the English sides. West Ham are 2-0 down from their first leg against Bundesliga darlings Bayer Leverkusen, while Liverpool will attempt to bounce back from a shocking 3-0 defeat at home to Atalanta. Won’t somebody think of the co-efficient?!
For the first time this season, 🏴England is NOT favoured to get the 5th Champions League spot.
— Nils Mackay (@NilsMackay) April 18, 2024
This week's results have been about as bad as possible for England.
🇩🇪 Germany's excellent results now mean they are very likely to end in Top 2 this year instead — 93.4%! pic.twitter.com/RxxXZWEut5
Atalanta were absolutely superb at Anfield, resolute in defence and clinical in attack. Jürgen Klopp made no excuses for his side’s first-leg defeat: “It was a really bad game, oh my God,” said the Liverpool manager after the game. “We started really well but didn’t continue. Before they scored we just lost the plot … we played a bad game, we deserved to lose. That’s how it is. Congratulations to Atalanta, really well done.”
Klopp was in a rather more philosophical mood this week, prior to Thursday’s match, admitting the situation reminded him of a line he used in a rousing pre-match speech before the 4-0 comeback over Barcelona in 2019.
“I remember I said: ‘If we fail, then let’s fail in the most beautiful way,’” the Liverpool manager said. “And that’s exactly how I see it again. After last week’s game everyone in the stadium thought: ‘That’s it.’ But since then, a week later, I don’t think everybody thinks it’s already decided”.
The first goal will be crucial. A goal for the hosts, and the tie almost certainly is over. But an early goal for Liverpool and it’s very much game/tie on. Let’s see.
Kick-off: 8pm BST, or 9pm in Bergamo.