Atalanta consigned Liverpool to a rare loss at Anfield, beating the six-time winners 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday to revive its hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage.
Josip Iličić and Robin Gosens scored goals in a five-minute span midway through the second half as Atalanta gained a measure of revenge for its 5-0 thrashing by the English champions in the first match of their double-header three weeks ago.
With Ajax also winning on Wednesday, Atalanta — a quarterfinalist in the Champions League last season — joined the Dutch club in moving two points behind Liverpool in Group D with two games remaining.
Atalanta's Josip Ilicic, center right, scores the opening goal past Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson, center left, during the Champions League group D soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. (Laurence GriffithsPool via AP)
Needing a win to secure progress to the last 16, Liverpool’s players was strangely subdued and didn’t manage a shot on target despite having star forward Mohamed Salah back in the team after recovering from contracting the coronavirus.
It was only Liverpool's fourth loss at home in all competitions since the start of the 2017-18 season, which includes the extra-time defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League’s round of 16 last season.
Both of the goals came from crosses from Atalanta’s left, with Iličić sliding in at the far post to turn in the opener in the 60th minute from Alejandro Gomez’s whipped center.
Liverpool's Diogo Jota reacts as he is tackled by Atalanta's Marten de Roon during the Champions League group D soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. (AP PhotoJon Super, Pool)
From another delivery to the back post, Hans Hateboer headed the ball back into the middle for Robin Gosens, Atalanta’s other wing back, to sidefoot in from eight meters in the 64th.
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