SMACCED IN THE FACE

Ex-Hammer Luca makes it a painful night at flag free flag-free Anfield

- ANDY DUNN

NO flags on the Kop, no wind in Liverpool's sails, this was a night when Jurgen Klopp's farewell tour hit serious turbulence.

It was a night when a potentially costly Premier League mis-step at Old Trafford was followed by a serious European fall at Anfield.

Klopp (right) rested Mohamed Salah for 45 minutes and watched his chosen ones rest themselves.

With about 15 minutes remaining in the contest, Joe Gomez - with many a team-mate waiting for a delivery into the danger area - took a shot from 25 yards.

Klopp erupted as only an angry Klopp can. Not long after, Mario Pasalic shovelled salt into the Liverpool manager's gaping wound with a tap-in Atalanta third.

That just about summed up Liverpool's night and Klopp looked almost relieved when Halil Umut Meler blew the final whistle.

Meler was the official who was punched by a Turkish club president this season.