LIVERPOOL STUNNED BY ATALANTA, ROMA BEATS MILAN

Liverpool suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Atalanta on Thursday, with Gianluca Scamacca scoring twice for the Italians in their Europa League quarter-final first leg.

AC Milan lost 1-0 at home to rival Italian side AS Roma on a disappointing evening for the continent’s second-tier club competition’s previous European champions.

Atalanta took the lead at Liverpool after 38 minutes, when an unmarked Scamacca sent a low effort past keeper Caoimhin Kelleher following Davide Zappacosta’s perfect ball.

Scamaca capitalised on Liverpool’s poor defending in the 60th minute, firing home from a superb cross by Charles De Ketelaere, then Mario Pasalic secured the victory seven minutes from time.

Late goals from Bayer Leverkusen substitutes Jonas Hofmann and Victor Boniface gave the Bundesliga leaders a 2-0 home victory over West Ham United.

The visitors’ goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabianski, made a series of saves to keep the score level at halftime until Hofmann gave Leverkusen the lead in the 83rd minute then Boniface doubled the lead in stoppage time with a header.

Roma stunned hosts AC Milan with Gianluca Mancini’s perfect header from Paulo Dybala’s corner in the 17th minute.

Portuguese champions Benfica defeated Olympique de Marseille 2-1 at home, with Rafa Silva and Argentine star Angel Di Maria scoring the goals.

The second legs will be played next Thursday.