Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side will take to the Anfield pitch on Thursday night knowing that they can put a big dent in Atalanta’s hopes of progressing to the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Any Reds fans believing the game will be a walkover might want to think again.
The Serie A outfit have lost their last two in all competitions, but have dumped an excellent Sporting side out of this competition, drawn away at Juventus in the Italian top-flight and beaten Napoli 3-0 in Naples.
They are no pushovers and the hosts will need to be at their very best if they want to take more than a slender advantage into the second leg next week.
Liverpool have had some recent injury problems, though it was a welcome sight to see Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Stefan Bajcetic back in training.
Team news is in for tonight's #UEL clash with Atalanta ?
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Liverpool team to face Atalanta
Unfortunately this one comes a little too quick for Alisson, so able deputy Caoimhin Kelleher continues between the sticks.
Jarell Quansah’s mistake at Old Trafford has seen him dropped to the bench with Joe Gomez drafted in to replace him. He’s joined in a strong back four by Kostas Tsimikas, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk.
A midfield three of Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones should ensure that things are kept tight in that area of the pitch, whilst Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott start up front.
With the likes of Luis Diaz, Mo Salah, Andrew Robertson, Dominik Szoboszlai, Jota and Alexander-Arnold on the bench, Klopp can certainly bring on the firepower if needed.