A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Manchester City star Phil Foden admits a decision at Anfield this season is ‘a shame’ as Alisson Becker sets a European record.
Trent Alexander-Arnold admits he ‘ran out of juice’ against Atalanta
Reds product Trent Alexander-Arnold admits he ‘ran out of juice’ as Liverpool beat Atalanta but crashed out of the Europa League. The Merseyside natives bagged a 1-0 win in Bergamo on Thursday night. But their win failed to overturn a 3-0 deficit from their first leg at Anfield.
Liverpool played their 91st fixture in Europe under Jurgen Klopp at the Gewiss Stadium and enjoyed a win through a seventh-minute Mohamed Salah penalty. But the winger was often wasteful in their attack. The Reds also struggled for clear chances, despite Atalanta’s nerves.
Their trip to Lombardy also saw Klopp give Alexander-Arnold his first start since returning to action from a knee injury. The 25-year-old had missed 12 games after sustaining the blow in February. Alexander-Arnold made his return as a substitute against Crystal Palace last week.
But Alexander-Arnold could only manage 72 minutes at Atalanta on top of his 42 minutes at Anfield last Sunday. Klopp had to introduce Joe Gomez for the right-back during the closing stages. And Alexander-Arnold admits the Liverpool star simply ran out of steam at Atalanta.
“I just ran out of juice in the second half,” Alexander-Arnold told LFCTV. “In the first half, I was enjoying my football, finding passes [and] playing a game that I loved.
“I think you could tell by the way I played it was special for me to be back out there and help the team to win the game. But as good as it was for me personally to be back out there, the overriding feeling is disappointment not to be able to carry on in this competition.”
Read more about what Alexander-Arnold said after Liverpool beat Atalanta, here.
Alisson set a new European record as Liverpool beat Atalanta 1-0
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker achieved a new European record as the Reds enjoyed a 1-0 win in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final defeat to Atalanta. Opta notes that he made the most passes by a goalkeeper yet in either of UEFA’s top two tournaments.
Alisson completed 82 of his passes in Bergamo to break all records Opta had for the Europa League since 2009/10 or Champions League since 2003/04. His tally was even the most of any player involved in Thursday’s tie at the Gewiss Stadium. Virgil van Dijk (77) came second.
No player for either team also attempted more passes than Alisson (94) as Liverpool happily let their goalkeeper control the ball at Atalanta. Per WhoScored, the 31-year-old registered a 10.1% share of the possession in Lombardy. Van Dijk ranked in second with a share of 8.7%.
Read more about the European record that Alisson broke against Atalanta, here.
Phil Foden admits it is a ‘shame’ that Jurgen Klopp is leaving Liverpool
Manchester City maestro Phil Foden has admitted that it is a ‘shame’ that Jurgen Klopp has decided to leave Liverpool. The German announced this January that he will step down after nine years at Anfield. Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers on Merseyside back in October 2015.
Foden believes Klopp has done a ‘brilliant’ job at Liverpool after guiding the Reds to titles in the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. The only title that Klopp has failed to win with Liverpool having entered the tournament is the Europa League.
Klopp also turned Liverpool into a tough team to play against and one that Foden does not enjoy facing. But the Manchester City star wants to play against the best teams and claims Liverpool are just that under Klopp. So, Foden regrets that Klopp has decided to walk away.
“It’s a shame [that] Jurgen Klopp is leaving,” Foden told the Daily Mail. “He’s been brilliant. To face his team isn’t nice but I think he is good for the game. He has changed Liverpool and it will be sad to see him go. I always want to play against the best.”
Read more about what Man City’s Foden has said about Klopp leaving Liverpool, here.