Liverpool have it all to do to flip around a three-goal deficit when they journey to Atalanta for their Europa League quarter-final 2nd leg on Thursday night.
The Reds put in a dismal overall performance as they fell to a shock 3-0 defeat at Anfield last week to go away them on the verge of a untimely exit, having in the past been the favourites to win the competition.
Had they suffered such a defeat away from home with the 2nd leg alternatively taking place at Anfield, these of a Reds persuasion would be feeling a lot more assured related to the possibility of an not likely comeback. Liverpool have performed it endless instances before, after all, with a ‘corner taken quickly’ against Barcelona in 2019 the most well-known exampleBut having to tour to Italy and win through three dreams just to force extra-time is a lot extra daunting.Atalanta have misplaced simply three of their 20 fits at the Gewiss Stadium this season, maintaining 10 smooth sheets and conceding solely 15 goals. Meanwhile, they only misplaced through one aim in every of these three defeats to Bologna, Napoli, and Inter Milan.
You have to go lower back to November 2022 for the closing time they conceded three instances at home, in a 3-2 defeat to Inter Milan, while they haven’t misplaced by using three goals in the front of their home fans seeing that a 4-1 loss to AS Roma in December 2021. That is the only time they have suffered such a hefty loss for the reason that Liverpool’s own 5-0 victory at the Gewiss Stadium at the back of closed doors returned in November 2020.
But before you get ready to wave the white flag, all is no longer lost. Atalanta have perhaps given the Reds a glimmer of hope with their most latest showings in the front of their domestic fans. Only three of their last 11 fits have taken area at the Gewiss Stadium, with them defeating Sporting Lisbon 2-1 in the Europa League round-of-16 last month.
However, they have dropped points in each of their Serie A games at home in the course of this run. Conceding a 1-0 lead in their defeat to Bologna at the begin of March, two dreams in four 2nd half minutes saw them fall to a 2-1 loss.
And whilst Thiago Motta’s aspect are a surprise bundle in Italy this season, sitting fourth in the desk and on direction to clinch surprise qualification for next season’s Champions League, Atalanta’s most current displaying off the back of humbling Liverpool is arguably greater concerningThe Italians raced into a 2-0 lead after simply 18 minutes at domestic to strugglers Hellas Verona on Monday night, only to once more concede two dreams in simply 4 minutes after the ruin as they have been held to a 2-2 draw.
While the stalemate left Atalanta in sixth place in the Serie A, a draw took their opponents just a point above the relegation zone. And before travelling to Bergamo, Hellas Verona had been the lowest scorers on the avenue in the division.
Admittedly, such outcomes would not be ample for the Reds to growth in the Europa League. But Atalanta’s uncharacteristic leaky defence can supply them hope. After all, if they can rating two goals in rapid succession at the Gewiss Stadium, following in the footsteps of both Bologna and Hellas Verona in current weeks, the Serie A outfit will have a tie on their hands.
And their manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, has warned his facet that regardless of their hefty lead, they aren’t in the semi-finals just yet
