Jurgen Klopp’s gamble backfires as sluggish Liverpool lose 3-0 to Atalanta – leaving his dream of a winning Europa League final bye in serious jeopardy, writes JOE BERNSTEIN

Klopp’s move to make six changes to his Liverpool line-up backfired as West Ham misfit Gianluca Scamacca struck in each half – the first due to a poor error from goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

With the Anfield atmosphere less colorful than usual as part of a fans’ protest, the Europa League favorites struggled to force Klopp to make a triple change at half-time – including the introduction of Mo Salah.

At that point, Atalanta were leading when Scamacca’s speculative strike whizzed under the body of Kelleher. And the big Italian, who was part of West Ham’s Europa Conference-winning campaign last season, extended the visitors’ lead with a sweet first-time finish after an hour.

Liverpool’s task of holding back a first-leg deficit was then made much more difficult when Mario Pasalic added a late third – putting Klopp’s dream of a winning farewell in a Dublin final in more than serious jeopardy.

Although the Europa League is not the most glamorous title Jurgen Klopp is chasing this season, the Liverpool manager has a sentimental connection with the competition, citing his run to the final in 2016 as the first step towards his success at Anfield.

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He made wholesale changes last night with the Premier League title race in mind, with Mo Salah among those on the substitutes’ bench, joined by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota after a couple of months out with injury.

Completely absent were the usual flags at the Kop, a protest by fans against the club raising season ticket prices for next season.

The only banner displayed was No To Ticket Price Increases in red letters on a white background and it was removed before the first whistle in line with Klopp’s wish that the protest not be a distraction during game time.

Atalanta are sixth in Serie A and beat Liverpool at Anfield in a Champions League match in 2020 under their current manager, Gian Gasperini.

But despite their squad including familiar names to Premier League fans, including Ademola Lookman (ex-Everton), Marten de Roon (Middlesbrough), David Zappacosta (Chelsea) and Gianluca Scamacca (West Ham), Liverpool started the two -legged quarter-final as clear favourites.

Yet it was the visitors who created and squandered the first chance in bizarre circumstances after three minutes.

Harvey Elliott lost to de Roon and Mario Pasalic looked certain to score from six yards. He hit the ball well enough but a diving Caoimhin Keller blocked the ball with his cheek to divert for a corner, leaving the Irishman with a mark on his face.

Buoyed by a slow start, Darwin Nunez quickly tested Juan Musso at the other end. But Atalanta showed their attacking teeth when full-back Zappacosta bombed forward and set up Charles De Ketelaere.

Instead of shooting, the Belgian striker laid back for Teun Koopmeiners, whose shot was blocked.

Nunez was criticized on Sunday for missing a good chance that could have wrapped up the points at Old Trafford.

Unfortunately for the Uruguayan forward, he was wayward again after 16 minutes. After making a good run to beat the offside trap and collect a pass from Curtis Jones, he got the angle wrong and chipped wide.

Still, Nunez is a constant nuisance for defenders and Isak Hien’s foul on him earned the Atalanta defender a booking.

When the resulting free-kick ended up at Harvey Elliott’s feet on the right edge of the penalty area, his curler hit the bar and then deflected onto the post, a case of the young man being doubly unlucky.

Liverpool could not build momentum from the close miss and after 35 minutes Klopp sent on four of his substitutes, including Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai, to warm up, hoping it would spur them on to decisive action.

It had the opposite effect, with Atalanta taking the lead after 38 minutes. Again, Zappacosta was the focal point of the attack, running towards Liverpool’s byline and picking out Scamacca with a cutback.

The big Italian’s low first-time strike from 12 yards should have saved to Kelleher’s left, but wedged painfully under the keeper’s flailing arm and rolled over the line.

Scamacca is something of a European specialist. Although he scored just eight goals in a disappointing season at West Ham last year, five were in their Europa Conference winning campaign before he missed the final through injury.

Kelleher went some way to redeeming himself almost immediately, coming out sharply at the end of the first half to narrow the angle and block Koopmeiner’s when the Dutchman had raced free. But it was still an important half-time team talk from Klopp with Liverpool trailing.

He also made three changes at the interval with Salah, Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson replacing Elliott, Kostas Tsimikas and Curtis Jones, giving Liverpool a far more first-team look, although Jones was doing well on the comeback trail from injury.

Liverpool immediately increased the tempo with Virgil van Dijk and Szoboszlai having an effort. Salah’s first sight of goal after 55 minutes led to Juan Musso tipping around the post.

Nunez lifted a chance over the bar from eight yards with Klopp coming out to the edge of the pitch to encourage his charges. However, it was the centre-forward’s last act, replaced by Diaz, but the Colombian hadn’t even touched the ball when Atalanta scored again.

The Italians played through the lines until De Keletaere got space from the right and Scamacca side-footed first time into the corner well beyond Kelleher’s reach.

After 75 minutes, Klopp made his final change – Diogo Jota came on for his first start since a knee injury on 17 February.

The only consolation on a disappointing night for Klopp is that in their Champions League double-header four years ago, Atalanta won 2-0 at Anfield – and the Reds won 5-0 in Italy.

But their task was made much more difficult after 82 minutes when Szoboszlai gave the ball away for de Roon to have a shot which Kelleher parried and Mario Pasalic saved the rebound.