Jota Hat-Trick Inspires Liverpool 5-0 Thrashing
04 November, 2020
UEFA Champions League
Result: Atalanta 0-5 Liverpool
Date: 03 November 2020
Venue: Gewiss Stadium
Diogo Jota netted a hat-trick for Liverpool, who romped to a 5-0 victory over Atalanta to keep up their perfect record in the UEFA Champions League group stages.
Jurgen Klopp handed starts to Rhys Williams and Diogo Jota, with Nathaniel Philipps and Roberto Firmino dropping to the bench.
Even without Firmino on the pitch, the Reds broke the deadlock on 16 minutes when Trent Alexander-Arnold slipped in Jota who held off his marker before lobbing Marco Sportiello.
While Atalanta showed signs to getting back in the overall game, the Reds were able to double their advantage on 33 minutes with Jota completing his brace with a neat finish in to the bottom corner.
The Reds were still without Vrigil van Dijk and Joel Matip, but Joe Gomez and Williams did well to frustrate the Atalanta in the opening 45 minutes.
Liverpool found in the next half from where they left off in the first, as Salah raced nearly the space of the pitch before cutting inside to curl the ball beyond Sportiello for the 3rd goal.
Mane got in on the act on 49 minutes, with the Senegalese attacker lobbing the on-rushing after being chosen by Salah.
Four minutes later, Jota completed his hat-trick with a composed finish into an empty net after rounding the Atalanta shot-stopper, who came rushing off his line.
Atalanta had a couple sights at goal following the hour-mark as Duvan Zapata rattled the woodwork before he was denied by an excellent save from Alisson Becker.
With one eye on the weekend's clash with Manchester City, Klopp withdrew Andrew Robertson, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum for the final 20 minutes as the Reds saw out the overall game to create it three wins from three matches in Group D.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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