Liverpool 0-2 Atalanta: 5 Talking Points as sub-par Reds suffer surprise home defeat | UEFA Champions League 2020-21

#3 Cracks starting to appear in Liverpool's defense?

Liverpool's young and inexperienced defence was exposed by Atalanta

The long-term absence of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, coupled with the short-term absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, has understandably raised questions about their ability to maintain their usual high standards.

However, Klopp’s men, with their makeshift back-line, registered a commanding 3-0 win over Leicester City, who are said to be one of their biggest rivals this season, over the weekend. Liverpool seemed to have silenced some of the doubters.

As a result, the Reds were expected to replicate their resounding away win over the Italian side earlier on in the competition, but Atalanta had other ideas.

Incessant pressuring from the Italian side forced Liverpool’s young and inexperienced back-line into all sorts of mistakes as the visitors carved out a number of promising chances.

Although they were unable to convert any of their chances in the first half, Atalanta made the pressure count in the second, with two quick-fire goals just after the hour mark that exposed gaps in the Liverpool defense.

Although both of Atalanta’s goals featured excellent crosses into the box, Klopp would be worried about the ease with which the goals were scored. The second goal, in particular, saw Gosens arrive into the box unseen and steer his finish into the net unchallenged.

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#4 Alejandro Gomez’s masterclass a fitting tribute to Maradona

Gomez's sparkling display was the catalyst for Atalanta's win

A few hours before Liverpool and Atalanta took to the field, the football world was rocked by the news of the unfortunate demise of Diego Maradona, who was one of the game’s true greats.

The Argentine magician spent a large part of his illustrious career in the Serie A with Napoli, where he won multiple titles and enjoyed glorious success.

And it was perhaps fitting that on the sad day, a diminutive Argentine playmaker with the number 10 on his back would steal the show with a superb individual performance, the likes of which Maradona seemed to put on for fun during his playing career.

A minute's silence in memory of Diego Armando #MaradonaIl minuto di silenzio in memoria di Diego Armando Maradona#LiverpoolAtalanta #UCL #GoAtalantaGo ⚫🔵 pic.twitter.com/F5gsTGiP3E

— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) November 25, 2020

With a virtuoso display that would have hade his countryman proud, Alejandro Gomez ran the show in Atalanta’s impressive win. He pulled the strings from midfield, while also putting in the hard yards with several lung-bursting runs in an effort to hurry and harry the Liverpool defence.

Gomez set up Atalanta’s first goal with a pin-point cross for Ilicic to steer home, before finding Hans Hateboer with another excellent cross minutes later which led to the Italian side’s second.

In a game that was otherwise quite devoid of clear-cut chances, Gomez lit up Anfield with a couple of moments of quality that decided the game in his side’s favour.

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#5 An intriguing battle developing in Group D of the Champions League

Atalanta's surprise win puts a twist in the tale in Group D of the Champions League

Having swept aside all previous challenges set before them in the tournament thus far, Liverpool were widely expected to rack up yet another win and secure passage through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

However, despite suffering a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool in the reverse fixture, Atalanta flipped the script on the Reds at Anfield by registering an unexpected, if thoroughly deserved, win.

With Ajax taking three points against Midtjylland in the other fixture in Group D, the Dutch champions sit level with Atalanta on seven points with four games played, two behind Liverpool.

Barring a sensational upset, the Reds still remain favourites to qualify from their group in top spot. Ajax and Atalanta are expected to be left to battle for the second spot, with the Danish side out of the running.

What makes this group even more intriguing is the fact that the Dutch side and the Italians face off in Holland in the final group game. They will fight it out for the right to continue in the competition, with the loser dropping down into the Europa League.