Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai will return to the Liverpool starting lineup against Atalanta in Bergamo on Thursday.
Liverpool will be desperate to overturn a huge deficit and reach the UEFA Europa League semi-finals when they lock horns with Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium on Thursday night. They are already 3-0 down from the first leg and will need a herculean performance to turn their fortunes around.
Liverpool will be the underdogs heading into the game because of the result in the first leg and their performances in recent outings. They are coming into this game on the back of a defeat against Crystal Palace, and this will be a difficult contest for them.
Liverpool do not have any major injury concerns heading into the second leg against Atalanta. According to a report from the club’s official website, Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip remain long-term absentees. Apart from that, Ryan Gravenberch and Conor Bradley have minor problems.
“I think Ryan Gravenberch had a similar thing, so first week of May he [Bradley] should be back in training. When is that? Two weeks’ time. [He] overstretched the ligaments, not serious-serious but serious enough that he’s not here.”
Alisson Becker will start in goal here after returning from his injury blow against Crystal Palace. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will be deployed in the full-back areas. They will look to help out defensively and create goalscoring opportunities for their teammates in the attack as well. Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil Van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Wataru Endo will be expected to break up opposition attacks and set up transitions for his team. Alexis Mac Allister will add creativity and control to the side, while Dominik Szoboszlai will add physicality and drive to the Liverpool midfield.
Darwin Nunez is expected to lead the line for Liverpool against Atalanta. He has been quite impressive in the Europa league this season and will look to bounce back after a disappointing performance against Manchester United and Crystal Palace. Mohamed Salah will start on the right side of the attack with Luis Diaz on the left. The two players will look to add pace, flair, and goals from the flanks.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
