Atalanta striker Muriel reflects on 5-0 defeat to Liverpool

Liverpool Atalanta TEAMtalk

Atalanta striker Luis Muriel says the Serie A side “weren’t ourselves” after Tuesday night’s 5-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League.

Diogo Jota took his tally to six goals in 10 days with a Champions League hat-trick as Liverpool hammered their Serie A opponents.

Mo Salah and Sadio Mane also scored as Liverpool put themselves within touching distance of the knockout stages.

Jurgen Klopp’s men were at their ruthless best, but Atalanta were unlucky with Duvan Zapata hitting the woodwork and also forcing Alisson Becker into several saves.

“It’s difficult to comment after a defeat like that. We weren’t ourselves tonight, and when you are not at 100 per cent against a side like Liverpool, you will pay a heavy price,” Muriel old Sky Sport Italia.

“Liverpool showed what they can do when up against a team that is not at 100 per cent. After the second goal, we tried to stay in the game and at half-time discussed what we had to do to keep it going and try to equalise.

 

 

“After one minute of the second half we conceded, then a couple of minutes later a fourth goal, that knocked us down and we never recovered.

“This result hurts, because we tried to prepare for this game and show we were up to the level of this competition. It feels like after the defeat to Napoli, so as we did then, we won’t lose our smile and want to get right back on our feet this weekend against Inter.”

 


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Jota in form

Asked if he was in the form of his life, new boy Jota told BT Sport: “I’m playing in the best team of my career so far. I don’t know if it’s the best moment of my career but obviously scoring goals is my way of playing football.

“I’m happy with this, a great win away in Champions League, a good moment and a good night.”

Asked which of his three goals was his favourite, Jota picked his opener – which saw him dink the ball over Atalanta keeper Marco Sportiello.

“The first one was my favourite because it unlocks the game – for all teams it’s important to get the first goal in each game,” he said. “We scored early so that’s a good moment for me and the team and then we can manage the game our way.”