Liverpool vs Atalanta LIVE: Europa League result and reaction as hosts crash to shock 3-0 defeat
The Reds hope to take control of their quarter-final tie when they take on the Serie A side at Anfield.
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Liverpool host Atalanta in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie at Anfield this evening. Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour continues with the Reds having dipped into second place in the Premier League following a 2-2 draw with Manchester United at the weekend.
Now, Liverpool are tasked with excelling in Europe’s second competition where they are one of the favourites to win the trophy after a strong group stage. The Reds won four of their six matches and finished top of Group E setting up a round of 16 clash with Sparta Prague.
The Czech side were no match for Klopp’s positive side and slumped to an 11-2 aggregate defeat over the two legs with Liverpool netting six at Anfield back in March. If they can replicate those performances Liverpool have the chance to put one foot in the semi-finals when they take on Atalanta tonight. The Italian side sit in sixth in Serie A having won just two of their last nine games.
Follow all the action from Anfield plus get the latest Europa League odds and tips right here:
Liverpool 0-0 Atalanta
12 mins: Tsimikas is the latest to win a free-kick after being caught by Zappacosta. Looks like Atalanta’s game plan is to squeeze the Reds in defence.
The Italian side break and Zappacosta is sent through down the right. He fizzes in a great ball that De Keteleare flicks on to Koopmeiners, but the Dutchman’s shot is blocked.
Liverpool 0-0 Atalanta
9 mins: Koopmeiners tries a foray into the box but van Dijk wins the goal kick.
Liverpool content to play it around the back for a while here.
Liverpool 0-0 Atalanta
7 mins: Gakpo wins a free-kick in a dangerous position. Atalanta look rather unsettled here despite their huge chance earlier.
Mac Allister delivers the ball in, but Musso collects.
Liverpool 0-0 Atalanta
6 mins: Elliott spreads a nice pass across to Tsimikas, but his cross is wasteful and clears every red shirt.
Liverpool 0-0 Atalanta
5 mins: A reminder that the winners of this tie will face the winners of the tie between Benfica and Marseille.
The game has calmed down a little since the frantic opening stages.
Liverpool 0-0 Atalanta
4 mins: Liverpool counter straight from the Atalanta corner. Nunez is slipped in with the through ball and he’s nearly one-v-one, but he slips as he shoots and Musso collects!
Liverpool come again straight away as Elliott gets in behind the defence. He lays it off to Mac Allister but his shot is wild.
Liverpool 0-0 Atalanta
2 mins: CLOSE! A fantastic save! Elliott is dispossessed and the ball bounces into the Liverpool box. It falls to Pasalic around six yards out, but his shot is right at Kelleher’s face! Atalanta corner.
Liverpool 0-0 Atalanta
1 min: Just one minute in and Liverpool’s press has forced Atalanta into conceding cheap possession, this time from a clearance fro goalkeeper Musso.
Almost the first chance of the night as Gakpo cuts inside and drives towards the box. He tries to slip it through to Nunez but it runs to Musso.
KICK-OFF! Liverpool 0-0 Atalanta
KICK-OFF! The visitors get us underway here.
Liverpool vs Atalanta LIVE
The anthem plays and the teams are out of the tunnel and Anfield is in fine voice ahead of what they probably anticipate will be a fairly comfortable win.
The captains are shaking hands and doing the coin toss.
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