Match Preview
Atalanta and Liverpool will clash in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash‚ with the Reds trailing by three goals to nil going into the away leg. This game could be huge in determining the outcome of Klopp’s final season at Anfield. With such a big game‚ comes exciting betting opportunities. Liverpool have a mountain to climb in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Atalanta. Liverpool fans will already be looking towards this weekend’s tussle with Fulham as they attempt to keep their title hopes alive.
Team Form
Liverpool have had better weeks than the one which has just passed. A 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford last Sunday was not a terrible result in isolation‚ but their failure to win having dominated the match left a bitter taste in Liverpool mouths. Next up was a shock 3-0 home loss to Atalanta on Thursday night‚ leaving their participation in the Europa League hanging by a thread. Finally‚ a 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday means the Reds are now clear underdogs in the Premier League title race. Manchester City are in pole position to finish atop the table in England for the fourth season in a row.
Head-to-Head
These two sides battled it out in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League in the 2020/21 campaign. Liverpool claimed a 5-0 win in Bergamo but Atalanta got their revenge 20 days later with a 2-0 win at Anfield. This will be the third head-to-head game between the two rivals. Atalanta’s 3-0 victory at Anfield must go down as one of their greatest ever results. La Dea are no stranger to continental competition in recent years ౼ they were minutes away from reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2019/20 ⎯ but Liverpool are probably the biggest club they have ever beaten;
Atalanta Preview
Atalanta haven’t won in five of their last six and the weekend saw them draw 0-0 to Spezia. Two of Atalanta’s three heaviest defeats in European competition have been at the hands of English opponents ౼ 1-5 v Manchester City last season and 0-5 v Liverpool in their most recent game; Given how well Gian Piero Gasperini’s side played last week‚ this double chance choice looks overpriced and is well worth taking up. There is a decent chance that Klopp will name a weakened XI ahead of the Fulham game and Atalanta have not lost in the Europa League all season.
Liverpool Preview
Liverpool have had better weeks than the one which has just passed. A 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford last Sunday was not a terrible result in isolation‚ but their failure to win having dominated the match left a bitter taste in Liverpool mouths. Next up was a shock 3-0 home loss to Atalanta on Thursday night‚ leaving their participation in the Europa League hanging by a thread. Finally‚ a 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday means the Reds are now clear underdogs in the Premier League title race. Manchester City are in pole position to finish atop the table in England for the fourth season in a row.
Betting Tips
Given how well Gian Piero Gasperini’s side played last week‚ this double chance choice looks overpriced and is well worth taking up. There is a decent chance that Klopp will name a weakened XI ahead of the Fulham game and Atalanta have not lost in the Europa League all season. Liverpool will surely exit the tournament on Thursday and they may well do so with a whimper. It is easy to see why many punters will go for over 2.5 goals in this match. Liverpool will need to take risks in search of a way back into the tie‚ potentially producing an open game. Gasperini‚ meanwhile‚ is a front-footed head coach who usually compels his team to play attack-minded football.
Over 2.5 Goals
Explosive Offenses ⁚ Both Atalanta and Liverpool boast potent attacking prowess‚ capable of producing goals in abundance. With their offensive firepower and propensity for high-scoring matches‚ hitting over 2.5 goals is a plausible outcome. Attacking Mentality ⁚ Both teams are likely to adopt aggressive approaches‚ aiming to outscore their opponents. Liverpool will need to take risks in search of a way back into the tie‚ potentially producing an open game. Gasperini‚ meanwhile‚ is a front-footed head coach who usually compels his team to play attack-minded football.
Under 2.5 Goals
At the same time‚ the experienced Italian manager is a smart tactician and he will know that keeping things tight in the first half on Thursday works to his team’s advantage. If Liverpool have not cut into the deficit by the interval‚ Klopp may throw in the towel and begin looking ahead to the weekend. Moreover‚ the Reds have been extremely wasteful in the final third of late. Even if they create chances here‚ there is no guarantee they will be able to take enough of them. For those reasons‚ under 2.5 goals could be a smart selection.
Atalanta to Win
Given how well Gian Piero Gasperini’s side played last week‚ this double chance choice looks overpriced and is well worth taking up. There is a decent chance that Klopp will name a weakened XI ahead of the Fulham game and Atalanta have not lost in the Europa League all season. Liverpool will surely exit the tournament on Thursday and they may well do so with a whimper.
Liverpool to Win
Liverpool are the clear favourites to win this game‚ priced at 3/10 to win the first leg. That gives them an implied win probability of 77‚ which shows how fancied they are here. Atalanta are 8/1 to cause a shock at Anfield‚ while a draw can be backed at 9/2. BTTS is 8/11 and over 2.5 goals is 4/9. Liverpool -1 handicap 5/6.
Correct Score Predictions
Atalanta and Liverpool’s defensive issues have been clear recently and neither side has kept many clean sheets. Goals can come at both ends in the quarter-final second leg. Over 2.5 Goals & BTTS at ⎯ 3 Units. Over 3.5 Goals at ౼ 1 Unit. Over 2.5 Goals & BTTS. Total Goals & BTTS. 2/3 ౼ 3 Units.
Player to Score
Teun Koopmeiners did not find the back of the net at Anfield‚ but no Atalanta player has found the back of the net more often this term. Given his record in Serie A‚ it is a surprise that Koopmeiners has not yet opened his account in the Europa League‚ even though he is a midfielder rather than a forward. Liverpool gave up plenty of chances in the first leg and there were some instances of shoddy defending against Crystal Palace too. Previously a holding midfielder who could even slot in at centre-back‚ Koopmeiners has been used in more advanced areas by Gasperini. The Netherlands international has consequently become much more of a goal threat and Liverpool will need to keep a close eye on him at the Gewiss Stadium.
Liverpool’s Europa League campaign will almost certainly come to an end in Bergamo this week. Atalanta’s 3-0 victory at Anfield must go down as one of their greatest ever results. La Dea are no stranger to continental competition in recent years ౼ they were minutes away from reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2019/20 ⎯ but Liverpool are probably the biggest club they have ever beaten. It was their second success at Anfield following a Champions League group phase win in 2020/21. In that campaign‚ however‚ Atalanta lost 5-0 at home to Liverpool. A repeat result on Thursday would send them crashing out against the odds.