Atalanta v Liverpool player ratings: Zappacosta 8, Scamacca 6; Van Dijk 8, Salah 6

Italian side lose 1-0 on night but win 3-1 on aggregate to seal Europa League semi-final spot

Juan Musso 8/10

ATALANTA RATINGS: Sent wrong way by Salah for Liverpool’s early penalty. Good block at feet of Diaz who was through on goal. Somewhat surprising he was not tested more as Liverpool waned as attacking Show more

Berat Djimsiti 8/10

Sliding interception on Salah pass from Albanian international denied Diaz almost certain goal. Near calamitous header back past won keeper but Atalanta managed to scramble clear was only blemish on fShow more

Isak Hien 8/10

Swedish centre-half picked up yellow card for blocking through-ball with his hand that Liverpool felt should have been red. Atalanta were magnificent defensively and Hien was central to that. AP

Sead Kolasinac 8/10

Former Arsenal defender returned from injury was superb at back as Atalanta kept Liverpool big guns such as Salah, Diaz and Jota very quiet. Getty Images

David Zappacosta 8/10

Ex-Chelsea wingback was impressive down right, setting up chances for likes of Koopmeiners and Scamacca and generally provided important outlet down his flank. AFP

Marten De Roon 7/10

Atalanta captain was back in midfield after covering in defence in first leg but final ball lacking at times. Kept pressure on Liverpool when away side were in possession, which was majority of game. Show more

Ederson 7/10

Brazilian midfielder, who scored against Verona at the weekend, could have made it 1-1 just after break but could only side-foot shot straight at keeper. Energetic presence in middle of park and was sShow more

Matteo Ruggeri 7/10

Wingback conceded early penalty when ball certainly hit his arm but how much he could do about it is another matter. Never stopped running up and down left flank. PA

Teun Koopmeiners 7/10

Had ball in net just before break after smashing past Alisson but had been caught offside. Saw low strike saved by Allison on the hour mark. Booked for cynical foul on Mac Allister. Getty Images)

Aleski Miranchuk 6/10

Touch let him down when in on goal after strike partner Sacamacca dinked ball through. Sent low shot wide of target when well placed in first half. PA

Gianluca Scamacca 6/10

The two-goal hero at Anfield and Atalanta’s top-scorer never had sniff of adding to that until 68th minute when he fired over from Zappacosta cross. Some nice touches and worked hard without much impaShow more

Mario Pasalic 6/10

SUBS: (On for Ederson 75’) Scorer of vital third goal at Anfield given 15 minute cameo. Reuters

Charles De Ketelaere 6/10

(On for Scamacca 75’) Belgian forward brought on for tiring Italian to help see out match. Getty Images

Ademola Lookman N/A

(On for Miranchukn 79’) Reuters

Alisson Becker 7/10

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Faced no shots on target in first half although was usual reliable self coming off line quickly to sweep up through-balls. Regulation saves after break, although was one decent stopShow more

Trent Alexander-Arnold 6/10

First start since February. His cross led to handball and early penalty that Salah finished in style. Not his usual threat with crossing and ran out of steam in second half. PA

Ibrahim Konate 8/10

Liverpool were not really tested at back as they dominated in terms of possession and chances. But what little Atalanta threw at Konate, the big Frenchman dealt with comfortably. Getty Images

Virgil Van Dijk 8/10

Brushed off having dislocated finger pushed back in early on and didn’t give the dangerous Scamacca much of look in at Stadio di Bergamo. EPA

Andrew Robertson 7/10

Scottish left-back had little problem defensively although Liverpool are still waiting for the return the assist machine of previous seasons. AFP

Alexis Mac Allister 6/10

On a night when Liverpool needed one of the Argentine’s blistering finishes, the opportunity just never arose here. Also, the incisive final ball from Liverpool’s midfield deserted them, particularly Show more

Dominik Szoboszlai 6/10

Hit swerving strike too close to goalkeeper who gathered well as Liverpool looked to build on early goal. Not enough impact from Hungarian from then on and no massive shock when brought off in second Show more

Curtis Jones 7/10

Neat, tidy and rarely wasted possession. But Liverpool needed defence-splitting passes that never appeared if they were to have any chance of turning around a three-goal deficit. EPA

Mohamed Salah 6/10

Drilled seventh-minute penalty into bottom corner to give Liverpool hope. Should have made it 2-0 before half-time but lobbed wide with keeper stranded. That proved key moment as Egyptian disappeared Show more

Cody Gakpo 7/10

One beautiful flick through Atalanta defence to put Diaz through on goal and was his ball over top that Salah should have scored from. Liverpool needed goals, though, and Gakpo never looked like scoriShow more

Luiz Diaz 6/10

Almost put Liverpool 2-0 up but keeper came flying out to block at his feet. Booked for arguing Hien should have seen red not yellow for handball. Unusually quiet game, though, from Colombian. PA

Diogo Jota 5/10

SUBS: (On for Diaz 66’) Has good scoring record in competition but no hint he would add to that in Bergamo. Reuters

Darwin Nunez 5/10

(On for Salah 66’) No impact from Uruguayan as Klopp’s triple attacking change failed to have desired effect. Reuters

Harvey Elliot 5/10

(On for Szoboszlai 66’) Barely figured after coming on. Getty Images

Joe Gomez 6/10

(On for Alexander-Arnold 72’) Slotted in at back with no problems. Getty Images

Jayden Danns N/A

(On for Robertson 79’) PA

Liverpool were knocked out of the Europa League by Atalanta with the Italian side reaching the semi-finals 3-1 on aggregate on Thursday.

Atalanta are in the last four of a European competition for the first time since 1988, despite Mohamed Salah's early penalty giving Liverpool a 1-0 second-leg win, thanks to their three-goal lead established in the quarter-final first leg at Anfield last week.

In what is becoming a sobering climax to the season, Liverpool have won just three of their last nine games in all competitions and again looked tired after already having played 52 games this campaign.

Jurgen Klopp may well only have the League Cup to show for his final season on Merseyside as the German's team have been eliminated from the FA Cup and Europa League and trail Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

“It was clear we gave ourselves a massive hurdle,” said the German. “It was really tricky and we were too hasty in moments. I liked the game a lot tonight, with the desire and power the boys showed. It was incredible from them.

“We won the game and that was the reaction we wanted to show. It was difficult and we knew it would be but Atalanta deserve to go through, 100 per cent.

“It is mixed emotions. We are out but I am happy with the game. We would have wished that we could have gone to [the final in] Dublin, but that hasn't happened.”

Gian Piero Gasperini called Thursday's match probably the most important Atalanta had ever played and his players were hailed as heroes at the final whistle by a pulsating crowd at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.

“Credit to Atalanta,” added Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. “The damage was done last week, when we were very poor and they had the perfect game.

“They deserve to go through and we made it far too difficult for ourselves. It was a great game and we won, but it doesn't really feel like it. We are out.

“At times, maybe we wanted it too quickly. Everyone was keen to get the second and, eventually, third goals. In the first half, we were on them and created chances.

“A second goal could have changed a lot. We're disappointed because we really wanted to win the competition. There were so many positive things today, but it's a bad feeling to be out.”