Atalanta stunned everyone with their victory at Anfield last week, led by Gianluca Scamacca and Mario Pasalic. Despite Liverpool's missed opportunities, Atalanta managed to secure a significant lead. However, Liverpool has a knack for turning things around when it matters most.
While Atalanta may be feeling confident after their win, they couldn't maintain that momentum in their recent Serie A match. Liverpool, on the other hand, suffered a frustrating loss to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Despite their recent struggles, Liverpool has been strong away from home this season. They haven't been shut out on the road for over a year, and their previous encounter with Atalanta ended in a dominant victory.
So, while the odds may be against them, Liverpool still has a chance to stage a remarkable comeback and secure their spot in the next round of the Europa League.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Giorgio Scalvini joins the list of injured players expected to miss Atalanta's upcoming match, adding to their defensive woes following Sead Kolasinac's adductor problem before their last game against Liverpool.However, Kolasinac made a return to the bench for their weekend match against Verona, and Marten de Roon is now available after serving a suspension. With these developments, Atalanta's defensive options look a bit brighter for the upcoming fixture.
Apart from Scalvini, Atalanta's squad should be fully available, with De Roon likely to slot back into the defensive lineup alongside Berat Djimsiti and Isak Hien. Additionally, Davide Zappacosta is back from suspension and expected to start on the right side.
On the other hand, Liverpool might have to cope without Conor Bradley, who sustained a foot injury in their recent loss to Palace. While the severity of Bradley's injury is still uncertain, Trent Alexander-Arnold is poised for a return to the starting lineup after recovering from his knee injury. Stefan Bajcetic could also be in contention after featuring for the Under-21s last week.
Injury concerns persist for Ben Doak, Joel Matip, and Thiago Alcantara, but Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota have made successful comebacks in recent weeks. Jota could be considered as a replacement for either Luis Diaz or Darwin Nunez, with Nunez having the lowest conversion rate of big chances among Europe's top-five leagues.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:Musso; De Roon, Djimsiti, Hien; Zappacosta, Pasalic, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners; Scamacca, De Ketelaere
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Elliott; Salah, Jota, Diaz
EXPERT PREDICTION
Atalanta 1-4 Liverpool
Liverpool must adopt an all-out attacking approach if they hope to advance to the semi-finals. It's crucial for them to regain their sharpness in front of goal, and having the composed Jota back in the mix should certainly boost their offensive threat. On the flip side, Atalanta has often struggled defensively in their domestic league.
While Gasperini's side is known for their exciting attacking style, Liverpool might snatch a win as a consolation. However, Atalanta could take advantage of any defensive lapses to ensure Klopp leaves Anfield empty-handed in terms of Europa League silverware.
