Jürgen Klopp was unrepentant. Atalanta, appropriately inspired by a No 10 from Buenos Aires, not only inflicted Liverpool’s first home defeat in the group stages of the Champions League for over six years, they made the Premier League champions look toothless. “We made five changes and it was very important we did that,” the Liverpool manager insisted. “It didn’t work out and that is part of the deal. But I would do it again.”
Klopp prioritised some fresher legs at Brighton in Saturday’s early kick-off over the strongest possible chance of qualifying for the knockout phase with two games to spare, two games that would give him plenty more opportunity to rest weary and fragile limbs. He lost.
