Liverpool vs Atalanta prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-04-10 19:00.
[p]Two table-topping sides from this season’s UEFA Europa League (UEL) group stages have been pitted against one another in a mouthwatering quarter-final, as Liverpool take on Atalanta. The Merseysiders topped Group E (W4, L2) before registering their biggest European aggregate win for over four decades when beating Sparta Prague 11-2 in the Round of 16, while Atalanta went unblemished in Group D (W4, D2) and continued that trait with a 3-2 aggregate win over Sporting last round.[/p]
[p]For Liverpool, this will be the eighth time they feature in the last eight of the UEFA Cup/UEL, eight years on from their last such appearance. That historic quarter-final tie against Borussia Dortmund in JĂĽrgen Klopps first season automatically comes to mind, and after a 91st minute Dejan Lovren goal completed a memorable 4-3 comeback in that game, Anfield will hope to witness another one of its famed European nights here.[/p]
[p]The first-leg is on Merseyside this time around, providing the Reds a chance to gain the upperhand since they’ve won 13 of their last 17 European home matches (D2, L2). The defeat that kickstarted that run came against Atalanta when these two shared a UEFA Champions League group in 2020/21, with Liverpool winning 5-0 at the Gewiss Stadium before Atalanta returned the favour with a 2-0 win at Anfield. [/p]
[p]Atalanta are a different beast in the UEL though, highlighted by the fact they’ve only ever lost three of their 28 games in the competition (W16, D9). All those results have come under long-term manager Gian Piero Gasperini, who has also guided his side to a record of just two defeats in their last 17 European away matches (W8, D7).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Liverpool will hope Dominik Szoboszlai can again be influential in this tie since five of his last seven goals have come at home after scoring in both legs vs Sparta. Gianluca Scamacca found the net in both of Atalanta’s Round of 16 ties, contributing to him scoring five of his last six goals before half-time.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Just one of Liverpool’s 17 home encounters against an Italian side ended level (W10, L6).[/p]