Atalanta 0-1 Liverpool: Who was Liverpool’s Man of the Match? | OneFootball

Atalanta 0 – 1 Liverpool: Who was Liverpool’s Man of the Match?

Trent Alexander Arnold

It seems to have been an awful long time since the Liverpool vice captain started a game for his local team, therefore, despite the reds disheartening quarter final exit from the Europa League, the downbeat fanbase can at least retain some hope that the homegrown superstar can ignite a late Premier League charge. The fantasy quadruple was reduced to a treble a few weeks ago, with a further reduction being achieved once more. Between now and the middle of May, only a potential double can be won in the final season of Mr Klopp, which is threatening to become a sorry farewell to someone that deserves so much more.

Trent’s Creative Ability

In the opening moments of this second leg tie, Trent was the forward thinking and proactive asset in possession, with urgency brimming through his progressive play. It was clear from minute one that the hybrid initiative would be in full effect (in Italy), as the three goal deficit required brilliance to be orchestrated from supreme individuals, which was delivered by the man of this piece.

Photo: IMAGO

In the seventh minute of this away leg, Mohamed Salah was able to put his team into the perfect early lead, with a clinically converted penalty. That spot kick was caused by an unlucky handball in the box, caused by a whipped cross hitting the arm of the Atalanta defender. The deliverer of that cross was of course the returning red, who showed the fight what so many lacked on the night. Sadly for those expectant supporters that travelled across Europe (to great expense no doubt), only a handful of visiting players were able to show anywhere close to the required levels needed to make his a real contest.

Shining Light in a Miserable Performance

This encounter was going to require a superhuman performance from most of the starting eleven (and subsequent substitutes), yet the 25-year-old man of the match was the only outfield player that can truly be satisfied with how he performed throughout. If five or six players had reached the urgent levels of the returning playmaker, then a place in the semifinals of this secondary European competition may have been attained, instead, a slow limp to the finish line ensued, which is something that is becoming all too common.

In the coming days and weeks, reinvention and renewed optimism needs to be drilled into a tired and uninspired group of players. To view the tantalising skill set of Trent Alexander Arnold, will hopefully propel a forward line that can simply not get going. These exhaustive campaigns are the reason why Liverpool’s outgoing manager, Jürgen Klopp, is leaving Merseyside.

It does seem painfully evident that many of these players are neither ready for such a long and tiring campaign, or have endured too much over the era of the great German coach. My hope of that the reemergence of the mangers vice captain can force some competitiveness into the forthcoming matches, as his level of expertise is world class and must be the inventive bedrock of a final charge.

Tonight at the Gewiss Stadium, the likes of Ibou, Ali, Virgil, and Mac, all tried to make the unlikely happen, however, it was my chosen player of the match that stirred something in that first half, which has me praying that he can continue to do so at the weekend.

Pre-match Prediction

Atalanta 0 – 4 Liverpool

Steven Smith