After finishing 5th in the Premier League last season, Liverpool joined the Europa League this season.After advancing through the group stage in good order, the team scored a total of 11 goals home and away against Sparta Prague in the last 16 to advance to the last eight with a comfortable victory.
Their next opponent is Atalanta of Italy. Although Atalanta has not been involved in the Serie A championship game recently, a few years ago they tormented prestigious clubs in the domestic league with their aggressive soccer. They also showed their curvaceousness on the European stage, putting on impressive performances.
In the current power structure, Liverpool can be seen as the superior side, but former Italian national team coach Cesare Prandelli, who began his coaching career with Atalanta, said his old club will be a test for the Reds as a club to be reckoned with.
“Fate created a fascinating match, wonderful for the environment,”
“And it won’t just be at Anfield, but also at Bergamo.”
“Gasperini and the club have made it possible to bring Liverpool back to Bergamo.”
“Is there room for Atalanta to do the feat? Yes, there is, even if the Reds are very strong.”
“But these are games where you would like to be 100% there. And so when you go on the pitch you give everything.”
“I think for Klopp facing Atalanta could become an ordeal.”
“No one in England plays like them, Klopp doesn’t have direct references in the Premier League.”
La Gazzetta dello Sport