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:
Klopp speaking to the media
Ahead of tonight’s game, outgoing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said that the chance to win the Europa League in what would be his final game in charge is “not personal for me, it’s for us”.
“Eight years ago when we played in Basel and lost against Sevilla it was not a great start - but [it was] the start for many other things”.
The final will take place in Dublin on 22 May.
Regarding Liverpool’s busy run-in and fixture congestion, he said that it’s “t’s not so much about training, it’s about meetings, analysis, media - stuff like that”.
“This rhythm is normal for us. We don’t train a lot - we prepare.”
Europa League just part of the journey - Jurgen Klopp restored Liverpool to Europe’s elite
As kick-off approaches, a reminder of The Independent’s preview piece reviewing Jurgen Klopp’s impact on heightening Liverpool’s European pedigree.
Jurgen Klopp has a tendency to mythologise, to both create and burnish a legend. His skill set has rarely seemed to include search-engine algorithms but in 2018 he declared: “If you had Google and put in ‘European nights’ the answer must be: Anfield. That’s really cool.” He is almost right. Google “great European nights” and Anfield features prominently. That is part of Klopp’s legacy.
There may only be two European nights left at Anfield for him; perhaps Atalanta on Thursday will prove the last, with no semi-final against Benfica or Marseille to follow. There may be no more that cross the barrier into greatness. And yet Klopp will leave Liverpool as the manager who restored the unforgettable European evenings to their fixture list. As with much else he has done at Anfield, he took a historic institution, updated it, added his personal touch, and made Liverpool seem the place to be again.
Europa League just part of the journey - Klopp restored Liverpool to Europe’s elite
The Reds were at risk of being a yesteryear club on the continent but could soon reach a fifth Uefa final in nine years
Head-to-head
This match will be only the third times that these two teams have met.
The previous meetings both came in the group stages of the Champions League in the 2020/21 season, when crowds were still kept away from stadiums.
Jurgen Klopp’s men won 5-0 in the away fixture, but fell to a 2-0 defeat in the home game.
Is Liverpool vs Atalanta on TV? Kick off time, channel and how to watch Europa League fixture
With just over half an hour until kick-off, a reminder of how you can watch tonight’s game.
Liverpool vs Atalanta kicks off at 8pm BST (9pm CEST) on 11 April 2024 at Anfield, Liverpool.
The match will be shown live on TNT Sports 1, which subscribers can stream via the Discovery + app and website. Coverage will begin at 7pm BST.
Here’s everything you need to know about the match and get the latest odds and tips, here.
Is Liverpool vs Atalanta on TV? How to watch Europa League fixture
Everything you need to know about the Uefa Europa League match
Atalanta team news
The away side have made five changes to the side that lost 3-1 to Cagliari last time out.
Juan Musso replaces Carnesecchi in goal, while Toloi and Kolasinac are replaced by Hien and Ruggeri.
Mario Pasalic comes in for Hateboer, while ex-Everton striker Ademola Lookman is replaced by AC Milan loanee Charles De Ketelaere.
Atalanta team news
ATALANTA XI: Musso; Zappacosta, Hien, Djimsiti, Ruggeri; Ederson, De Roon, Pasalic ; Koopmeiners; Scamacca, De Ketelaere.
SUBS: Toloi, Holm, Lookman, Toure, Bakker, Adopo, Rossi, Carnesecchi, Hateboer, Bonfanti, Miranchuk.
Liverpool team news
So, the host make six changes to the side that started the 2-2 draw at Manchester United last Sunday.
In defence, Kostas Tsimikas, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate come in for Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah and Andy Robertson.
Curtis Jones replaces Szoboszlai in midfield, while Salah is rested in place of Harvey Elliott and Cody Gakpo comes in for Luis Diaz.
Diogo Jota and Alexander-Arnold, neither of whom have played since February, are both on the bench.
Team news
LIVERPOOL XI: Kelleher; Tsimikas, Konate, van Dijk, Gomez; Endo, Mac Allister, Jones; Elliot, Nunez, Gakpo.
SUBS: Adrian, Diaz, Salah, Szoboszlai, Jota, Robertson, Gravenberch, Clark, Bajcetic, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Bradley.
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