2023-24 UEFA Europa League Quarter-Finals: First Leg – Liverpool vs Atalanta

Liverpool host Atalanta at Anfield in the opening leg of their Quarter-Final in 2023-24 UEFA Europa League.

Liverpool comfortably dispatched Sparta Prague in the Round of 16 to set up this Quarter-Final tie, whilst Atalanta overcame Sporting Lisbon to book their spot in this round.

 

Team News

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Liverpool have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 2-2 draw at Manchester United in the Premier League.

Ben Doak, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota (all knee), Joel Matip (ACL), Thiago Alcantara (muscle), Stefan Bajcetic (calf) and Alisson (hamstring) remain absent.

Atalanta have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 2-1 loss at Cagliari in Serie A last weekend.

Giorgio Scalvini (hamstring) remains ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Liverpool host Atalanta at 8pm BST at Anfield on Thursday 11 April, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Liverpool have won one of two previous meetings against Atalanta (W1, L1), which came in the Group Stage of 2020-21 UEFA Champions League.
• Atalanta won 2-0 in their only previous visit to Liverpool at Anfield in all competitions.
• Each of the two previous meetings were won by the team playing away and they kept a clean sheet on both occasions.
• Mohamed Salah has scored in each of Liverpool’s last three home matches in this season’s Europa League.
• All four of Luis Muriel’s goals for Atalanta in this season’s competition were scored away from home.

 

Prediction

Having lost their lead at the Premier League summit on goal difference, Liverpool now need to just focus on this game because they have a great chance of getting back to winning ways if can cut out the defensive errors and just play with more composure up front.

Atalanta meanwhile have struggled lately on the road with one win in their last seven away matches in all competitions, whilst they blew an early lead at Cagliari which shows how vulnerable their defence is looking but they still will pose a threat with their attacking style.

This game though is one which Jurgen Klopp’s Reds should look to really win and ideally with a solid first-leg lead if want to allow themselves room to focus on their next two domestic games, although Atalanta should have enough fight to keep the tie alive if play well here.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Atalanta

Result: Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta