Liverpool may have stumbled in their bid to be crowned Premier League champions on Sunday, but Jurgen Klopp’s side must now turn their attention back to European football.
The Reds have been drawn against Italian side Atalanta in the quarter-final of this year’s Europa League, with the first leg of the tie coming at Anfield this Thursday. Liverpool have breezed through the competition to date, including racking up 11 goals over two legs against Sparta Prague in the last 16.
A semi-final clash with either Benfica or Marseille is up for grabs, but Atalanta will be no pushovers. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side always pose a threat and knocked out Sporting CP in the previous round, whose manager Ruben Amorim is currently being linked with replacing Klopp in the Liverpool dugout.
The two clubs have only locked horns on two occasions before, with a victory for each during their group stage meetings in the 2020/21 Champions League.
Here is 90min’s guide to Liverpool vs Atalanta this midweek.
Liverpool vs Atalanta H2H record (all-time)
Current form (all competitions)
Liverpool
Atalanta
Man Utd 2-2 Liverpool – 07/04/24
Cagliari 2-1 Atalanta – 07/04/24
Liverpool 3-1 Sheffield United – 04/04/24
Fiorentina 1-0 Atalanta – 03/04/24
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton – 31/03/24
Napoli 0-3 Atalanta – 30/03/24
Man Utd 4-3 Liverpool – 17/03/24
Atalanta 2-1 Sporting – 14/03/24
Liverpool 6-1 Sparta Prague – 14/03/24
Juventus 2-2 Atalanta – 10/03/24
Country
TV channel / live stream
United Kingdom
TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+, discovery+ App
United States
ViX, Paramount+
Canada
DAZN
Liverpool’s injury woes are starting to ease heading into the crucial period of the season, with the Reds handed a real boost this week. The quartet of Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker and Stefan Bajcetic have all returned to team training, although none of them are likely to feature against Atalanta.
In terms of long-term absentees, it’s only young Ben Doak, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara who are currently sidelined, with all three likely missing the rest of the campaign.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Atalanta (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
Gasperini is blessed with an almost entirely fit team ahead of a difficult journey to Anfield, with young defender Giorgio Scalvini the only player absent. The 20-year-old has a hamstring issue and will miss out on a chance to shine on the big stage.
Charles De Ketelaere recently returned from injury and will take residence on the Atalanta bench once more, while two rumoured Liverpool transfer targets – Teun Koopmeiners and Ederson – will both feature in midfield.
Atalanta predicted lineup vs Liverpool (3-4-1-2): Musso; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Hateboer, Ederson, De Roon, Zappacosta; Koopmeiners; Scamacca, Miranchuk.
Klopp should go strong for the visit of Atalanta as Liverpool hunt down their first Europa League title under the German during his final season. If that’s the case, you would be brave to bet against them finding victory at Anfield on Thursday evening.
However, Atalanta are a good attacking side and have already taken points off the likes of Juventus, Milan and Napoli this term. Liverpool’s shaky defensive record of late – with no clean sheets in their last seven – means the Italian side may find some joy on the counter-attack.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Atalanta
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