Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was left baffled at his side's attacking record in their previous three games before exiting the Europa League at the hands of Atalanta. A Mohamed Salah penalty gave the Reds a win over their Italian opposition, but it was not enough to overturn a 3-0 deficit from the first leg.
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In what ended up being Klopp's final European game in charge of Liverpool, the team were far from their fluent best despite being made aware of the three-goal obstacle that needed to be overcome before kick-off.
A first-choice lineup was deployed and the visitors made the perfect start when Salah found the back of the net from 12 yards after just seven minutes, but they were unable to break down Atalanta who sealed their place in the final four.
The Reds have only the Premier League to focus on this season as Klopp's farewell inches closer to reality, but the German boss is well aware that their finishing slump needs to be urgently addressed in order to usurp Manchester City and Arsenal.
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Klopp pointed out that in the previous three matches against Manchester United, Atalanta in the first leg and Crystal Palace, his side had over 60 shots but failed to hit the back of the net, describing their bad luck as "strange" in his post-match interview.
"We created 67 shots in the three games in which we did not win one of," Klopp explained to TNT Sports. "It's really strange, really strange. I know the odds and listen I don't care, nobody cares really, put the ball in the back of the net and it's fine.
"We didn't and that's obviously our fault, but we played not bad in this period, you should not misunderstand that because I don't, and tonight we won the game. So we are back to winning ways.
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Klopp felt that a fully-fit Trent Alexander-Arnold could have made the difference in the closing stages, but had to be replaced after 72 minutes as he continues his recovery from injury, as Klopp conceded that Atalanta deserved to progress overall.
"It was clear we gave ourselves a massive hurdle," Klopp added. "I liked the game a lot tonight with the desire and power the boys show. It was incredible from them. It was really tricky and we were too hasty in moments. If Trent Alexander-Arnold had been a bit fitter we could have gone a bit longer, but it is insane that he has even played! In the end he was running out of gas.
"We won the game and that was the reaction we wanted to show. It was difficult and we knew it would be but they deserve to go through 100 per cent. We have to focus on the league and that is exactly what we will do from now. Tonight we won the game so we are back to winning ways. We have a few days to recover to go again against Fulham. That will be a different game but it will be tricky."
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