Liverpool did not get really get going as per their usual displays, said James Milner on his side succumbing to a 2-0 loss to Atalanta on Wednesday night in the UEFA Champions League group stage fixture.
Goals from Iličić and Robin Gosens gave the Italian outfit a well-deserved victory on their travel to the Merseyside Reds, denying Jurgen Klopp’s side the opportunity to seal qualification for the Round of 16 fixture list, and also preventing the Anfield outfit from securing four victories in a row over the course of this group stage campaign.
Speaking to BT Sport following the match, Milner admitted that Liverpool FC lacked the clinical touch in the mid-week clash, with the 34-year-old adding that it was indeed a really poor performance on part of the Champions of England.
“No, I don’t think so,” Milner told BT Sport.
“We know it was a poor performance, pretty flat. Obviously [there were] a lot of changes again and we just never got going tonight, which is disappointing.”
“I don’t think you could question the boys’ effort. I think the effort is always there, you know that from this group. There wasn’t the fluidity, I don’t think.”
However, despite Wednesday night’s loss, Liverpool FC stay on the top of the Group D standings for now, and Klopp will be hoping that his players can shake off their rusty showing as a tricky Brighton test awaits the German coach’s side on Saturday.
