Atalanta vs Liverpool preview: team news, lineups, TV, kick-off time, referee & VAR

Liverpool will have to pull off one of the greatest comebacks in their history on Thursday if they have any hope of qualifying for the Europa League semi-final.

The Reds were humbled during their quarter-final first leg with Atalanta and now have an enormous deficit to overturn in this Thursday's second leg in Bergamo after falling to a 3-0 defeat.

Confidence will not be high heading to Italy, especially after Liverpool's misery was compounded by a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.

With Manchester City now strong favourites for the title and the Reds' European hopes in tatters, Jurgen Klopp's final campaign at Anfield is coming to an underwhelming conclusion.

However, there is still the faintest glimmer of hope for the Reds in this year's Europa League, but they will need to produce a legendary display against La Dea.

Here is your guide to Atalanta vs Liverpool on Thursday evening.

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DATE, KICK-OFF, STADIUM, REFEREE & VAR

• Date: Thursday 18 April

• Kick-off time: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT

• Stadium: Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia

• Referee: TBC

• VAR: TBC

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

Liverpool may have only played Atalanta on three occasions in the past, but there have been some memorable meetings - for good and bad.

Of course, the most recent clash was the 3-0 defeat for the Reds in this year's quarter-final first leg, with Liverpool losing their only other Anfield clash with Atalanta.

That came during the 2020/21 Champions League group stage, although Liverpool rotated their team significantly having already won their opening three games of the competition.

One of those victories came in Bergamo and it was a pretty emphatic one for the Reds. Klopp's men romped to a 5-0 victory up against Gian Piero Gasperini's side, with Diogo Jota bagging a hat-trick.

Such a result would do just fine on Thursday.

HOW TO WATCH ATALANTA VS LIVERPOOL ON TV & LIVE STREAM

As is the case for all Liverpool's Europa League encounters, viewers in the United Kingdom and Ireland are able to tune in to the action on TNT Sports or discovery+.

The game will be available on Paramout+ or ViX in the United States, while those in Canada can watch on DAZN. The provider in Australia is Stan Sport.

Star+ will be showing the match in South America, while Viaplay will be among the dozens of broadcasters in Europe.

Those in much of Asia will be able to watch on beIN Sports, while SuperSport is the major provider for large parts of Africa.

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

The only positives for Liverpool from their 1-0 defeat to Palace at the weekend was the return of Alisson between the sticks and Trent Alexander-Arnold off the bench. Diogo Jota also got more minutes after his recent long-term knee injury.

However, Alexander-Arnold was used earlier than expected against the Eagles due to an injury suffered by young Conor Bradley, who was withdrawn just after the break with a foot problem.

Klopp confirmed the Northern Irishman was in pain after the match and that Liverpool will only know the full extent of his issue after scans this week.

Stefan Bajcetic got his first minutes of football since September last Friday during Liverpool under-21s' victory over Manchester United under-21s and he could take residence on the bench midweek.

However, Ben Doak, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara are still sidelined for the Reds.

ATALANTA TEAM NEWS

Unfortunately for the Reds, Atalanta have an almost full-strength side available to them for Thursday's clash.

However, they are missing two key defenders, with young Giorgio Scalvini and former Arsenal man Sead Kolasinac both missing out on Liverpool's visit.

Klopp's men will need to keep a special eye on former West Ham forward Gianluca Scamacca, who bagged a brace at Anfield, while they will get another look at rumoured transfer targets Teun Koopmeiners and Ederson.

LIVERPOOL PREDICTED LINEUP

It's pretty much impossible to predict how Klopp will line up for this one.

Some have suggested Liverpool should rest key players to help with their Premier League title bid, while others believe that the Reds should go with their strongest XI.

In truth, it may be a mixture of rotation and first-teamers, especially given the disappointing form of some of Liverpool's star players at present.

Given the defensive issues from the first leg, the defence should be as strong as humanly possible, although whether Alexander-Arnold will be risked from the off remains to be seen.

One obvious inclusion is Cody Gakpo, who has been one of the few shining lights during a difficult week.

(4-3-3): Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Jota. 

ATALANTA VS LIVERPOOL SCORE PREDICTION

Given Liverpool's disappointing form and difficulties in both boxes, there is very little chance of a dramatic three-goal victory.

However, playing away from Anfield may actually prove fruitful as pressure lifts, with the Reds more than capable of beating Gasperini's men.

They will be seeking revenge and they may just get it - even if it's not enough to see them progress.

Atalanta 1-2 Liverpool