Liverpool stunned in rare Anfield failure as embattled PL rivals snatch win
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Liverpool have suffered a shock defeat at Anfield, going down to Atalanta 2-0 hours after Manchester City squeezed out a 1-0 win against Olympiavos.
Jurgen Klopp’s side could have guaranteed qualification from Group D with a victory, but they produced a poor display that was deservedly punished by the impressive Italians.
Two goals in four minutes from Josip Ilicic and Robin Gosens in the second half gave Atalanta a memorable victory that ended Liverpool’s 100-percent record in this year’s tournament.
Liverpool had thrashed Atalanta 5-0 in Italy at the start of the November to make it three wins from their first three group games.
But for the first time since Virgil van Dijk was lost to a serious knee injury at Everton in October, the Reds looked vulnerable at the back in a rare Anfield defeat.
Atalanta took advantage of Liverpool’s lack of cohesion at the back when Gosens got in behind Matip and smashed a powerful strike that Alisson Becker pushed away. Papu Gomez was next to exploit Matip’s creaky start when he eluded the centre-back and fired just wide from the edge of the area.
Tsimikas’s poor headed clearance gave a chance to Ilicic, but he could only shoot wide.
Liverpool were no more convincing in attack, despite the presence of Mohamed Salah -- back after missing one match due to his positive coronavirus test -- and Sadio Mane either side of Divock Origi.
Waving his arms and gesticulating at his players, Klopp’s frustration was visible as half an hour passed without Liverpool mustering a single shot.
Salah finally had a sight of goal just before half-time, but he couldn’t keep his effort on target from an acute angle.
Liverpool were no better after the interval and they fell behind in the 60th minute.
Gomez whipped over a teasing cross that Liverpool failed to deal with and the unmarked Ilicic stole in to slot past Alisson from close range for his first goal of the season.
Klopp had seen enough and made four changes immediately after the goal as he hauled off Salah among others and sent on Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and Andrew Robertson.
The switches weren’t enough to spark lethargic Liverpool into life and Atalanta struck again in the 64th minute.
Liverpool were dreadfully slow to react as Gosens produced a clinical finish from 10 yards after Gomez’s precise delivery was nodded across goal by Hans Hateboer.
OLYMPIACOS 0-1 CITY
Manchester City has earned its place in the Champions League last 16. Pep Guardiola made five changes to the team beaten 2-0 at Tottenham on Saturday that left City with their worst league start since the first few months of the club’s Abu Dhabi-backed ownership.
Scoring goals has been City’s big problem in the Premier League and Gabriel Jesus, Joao Cancelo, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva were all guilty of passing up huge chances among City’s 21 efforts on goal.
Foden showed his more experienced teammates how it should be done when he drilled home Raheem Sterling’s lovely backheel nine minutes before half-time for his fourth goal of the season.
Chances continued to come and go for City after the break, but one goal was enough as Olympiakos failed to muster a single shot on target, complicating their chances of reaching the knockout stages.
The Greek champions trail second-placed Porto, who travel to Marseille later on Wednesday, by three points.
BAYERN 3-1 RB SALZBURG
Kingsley Coman scored and claimed an assist as holders
Bayern Munich cruised into the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday with a 3-1 victory at home to Salzburg.
Robert Lewandowski put Bayern ahead just before half-time and Coman’s heavily deflected strike doubled the lead on 52 minutes.
The hosts saw Marc Roca sent off but Coman set up Leroy Sane for Bayern’s third goal, with Mergim Berisha notching a consolation for Salzburg.
Bayern have won their last 15 games in the Champions League and are guaranteed top spot in Group A with two matches still to play.
OTHER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS
Inter 0-2 Real Madrid
Monchengladbach 4-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Marseille 0-2 Porto
Ajax 3-1 Midtjylland
Atletico Madrid 0-0 Lokomotiv Mosco
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