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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Liverpool outplayed by Atalanta at Anfield</li><li>McManaman slammed Klopp after the defeat</li><li>The Reds have a three-goal deficit to overturn at Atalanta</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Jurgen Klopp told he has 'a lot to explain' following Liverpool's disastrous Europa League defeat to Atalanta as Steve McManaman warns 'wheels have come off' Reds' season

Europa League

Marseille

Atalanta

Premier League

Liverpool

Tottenham

The <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-players-europa-league-hammering-by-atalanta/blt58a5d1c9ce05b413" target="_blank">defeat at Anfield</a> marked Liverpool's first loss on home turf since their 5-2 defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League back in February 2023. Despite their impressive home record, Liverpool faltered against Atalanta, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/virgil-van-dijk-liverpool-europa-league-atalanta/blt2971d01373121a44" target="_blank">Gianluca Scamacca's brace and a late goal from Mario Pasalic sealing the visitors' victory.</a>

WHAT HAPPENED?

The outcome now leaves <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/liverpool-player-ratings-vs-atalanta-time-to-panic-now-darwin-nunez-misfires-again-and-virgil-van-dijk-s-defence-capitulates-in-embarrassing-europa-league-loss-at-anfield/blt5621f4e4101c0824" target="_blank">Liverpool with a daunting task </a>in the return fixture in Italy. In a candid assessment, McManaman has called on Klopp to "explain" his team's lacklustre performance and the sudden downturn in form, despite their stellar record throughout the season - with only one defeat in their last ten matches, a narrow 4-3 loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Speaking on TNT Sports, McManaman said: "This victory means more to them [Atalanta] of course because last time Liverpool had qualified and changed the team. This time this is against the favourites at Anfield, the favourites whom people expected to walk to Dublin. And woah! They've put a stop to that talk. And do you know what, they haven't deserved it tonight. Liverpool have been very average."They've been amazing this year and all the nice things that have been said about them, but tonight... Wow, the wheels have come off. All the substitutions that have been made haven't had an impact as they have had this year. It will be interesting to see what the manager has to say when he explains it away... because there's a lot to explain!"

WHAT MCMANAMAN SAID

Looking ahead to the return fixture in Bergamo, McManaman believes Liverpool need to keep a clean sheet to stand any chance of still making it to the last four. However, it is a task he implied would be "hard to do" based on their recent defensive performances.As Liverpool regroup and prepare for the challenges ahead, the pressure mounts on Klopp to address the issues highlighted by McManaman and ensure that the team can bounce back from this setback as they pursue glory in England and Europe.

WHAT NEXT?

Jurgen Klopp told he has 'a lot to explain' following Liverpool's disastrous Europa League defeat to Atalanta as Steve McManaman warns 'wheels have come off' Reds' season | Goal.com United Arab Emirates

Steve McManaman tore into Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool&apos;s 3-0 defeat to Atalanta and insisted that the German manager has a &quot;lot to explain.&quot;

Jurgen Klopp told he has &apos;a lot to explain&apos; following Liverpool&apos;s disastrous Europa League defeat to Atalanta as Steve McManaman warns &apos;wheels have come off&apos; Reds&apos; season

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