BERGAMO, Italy — Liverpool failed to overcome a three-goal deficit and was eliminated from the UEFA Europa League despite beating Atalanta 1-0 in the second leg of their quarter-final matchup.
But days after celebrating its first-ever Bundesliga title, Bayer Leverkusen remained on course to claim a historic treble by holding West Ham to a 1-1 draw at London Stadium to stretch its unbeaten streak to 44. Xabi Alonso’s team advanced 3-1 on aggregate.
In the semi-finals, Leverkusen will face Roma after the capital club beat AC Milan 2-1 in an all-Italian quarter-final to advance 3-1 on aggregate.
The result officially ended Liverpool´s hopes of a treble of trophies in manager Jurgen Klopp´s final season at Anfield, though the feat had looked unlikely after the Italian team won 3-0 in the first-leg in Merseyside.
“We gave ourselves a massive hurdle (in the first leg), but I liked the game a lot for a long time, the commitment, the desire, the power the boys showed was incredible,” Klopp told TNT Sports according to Reuters.
“It is mixed emotions. We would have wished that we could have gone to Dublin (for the final), but that hasn’t happened.
“We now have one competition left (Premier League) and we will throw ourselves into that completely.”
But while Klopp’s men looked little like the shaky side who were steamrolled by Atalanta at Anfield, particularly in the first half, Gian Piero Gasperini’s team held on in what the manager had called the biggest game in the team’s history to earn a semi-final place against Olympique de Marseille.
“If you don’t win without danger, there’s no glory to your triumph,” Gasperini said.
“The fans always ask us for the shirt to be soaked in sweat, and that’s one thing we must have at a minimum.”
Salah had Liverpool’s best chance at a second goal when he was sent in one-on-one against goalkeeper Juan Musso, but he chipped the ball well wide.
Liverpool, who won the League Cup earlier this season, now turns their attention back to the Premier League. They are level on 71 points with second-placed Arsenal and two points behind leaders Manchester City.
They play at Fulham on Sunday in a quick turnaround. “We won tonight and we kept a clean sheet, so there are so many more positives we can take. Yes, it is a bad feeling to be out so we have to get back up,” Van Dijk added.
“We have been through difficult moments all together, so showing maturity and togetherness is the key to this. We need everyone now for the last push in the league.”
Michail Antonio put West Ham ahead early, heading in a cross from Vladimir Coufal. Jeremie Frimpong came off the bench and equalized in the 89th minute to clinch the aggregate victory and extend the team’s unbeaten run.
In Bergamo, Liverpool had a dream start after Trent Alexander-Arnold´s cross hit Matteo Ruggeri´s hand. Mohamed Salah sent goalkeeper Juan Musso the wrong way from the penalty spot for an early lead in the seventh minute.
But the Reds failed to convert any other chances – a long way off from their 5-0 win at Atalanta in the Champions League in 2020.
Atalanta will meet either Marseille or Benfica in the semi-finals – that second-leg game went to extra time.
EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE
Emiliano Martinez saved two spot kicks and Douglas Luiz converted the decisive penalty for Aston Villa to prevail 4-3 in a shootout over Lille and advance to the Europa Conference League semifinals.
After Villa won the first leg of their quarterfinals 2-1 last week, Yusuf Yazici and Benjamin André scored in each half for Lille’s 2-0 lead before defender Matty Cash’s 87th-minute goal evened the aggregate score 3-3 to force extra time.
Villa is into its first European semifinal since 1982 and will face either Fenerbahce or Olympiakos for a spot in the May 29 final in Athens.
Fiorentina, last year’s runnerup, also reached the semifinals after Nicolás González and Cristiano Biraghi both scored in extra time to edge 10-man Viktoria Plzen 2-0 in the second leg. The opening leg was a goalless draw.
The Italian team will face either PAOK or Club Brugge. Plzen´s Brazilian midfielder Cadu received a red card in the 66th minute.
The four Europa League second-leg quarterfinals were later Thursday with Liverpool needing to overcome a three-goal deficit at Atalanta.
West Ham was hosting the new Bundesliga champion Bayer Leverkusen after losing 2-0 in Germany while Roma has a 1-0 advantage in an all-Italian matchup against AC Milan. Benfica plays at Marseille with a 2-1 advantage.
