Atalanta v Liverpool: Europa League opponents WARY of Reds comeback

Here’s what Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini told the press about Liverpool ahead of the UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg on Thursday. It's not a game he's taking lightly - despite the 3-0 lead.

Liverpool are not favourites to progress. That much is obvious.

The Reds lost the first leg 3-0 at Anfield, leaving Atalanta in pole position to go through. In fact, Liverpool reaching the semi-finals from this position would require one of the most remarkable results in their history.

But Gian Piero Gasperini knows full well that Liverpool have it in them. After all, they've recorded some of the most improbable turnarounds ever seen in European football.

“Liverpool are a great team always," he told his pre-match press conference, per Football Italia. "In this period the championships see strange results, everyone gives 110 percent. But Liverpool remains one of the greatest teams in the world.

“We have to approach the game like we did in Liverpool, thinking we have to score and get a result.

“We know that anything can happen in football in a few minutes, we have to be aware that the wolf we saw in the first leg was perhaps not so bad.

“Bergamo is experiencing an eve of great excitement and enthusiasm. What seemed like an impossible goal has become possible. We believe in it.”

Liverpool must END goalscoring woes

This one would feel improbable even if Liverpool weren't in terrible goalscoring form. But after seeing what the forwards put up against Manchester United, Atalanta and Crystal Palace, it feels wildly unlikely that they score three times in Bergamo.

At the same time, we know full well that these forwards are actually capable of it. Liverpool have scored more goals than any team on the planet this season - the goals are there, they're just hiding behind poor form.

Perhaps that form turns around this week. If it does, Liverpool have a chance here. If it doesn't, they simply don't have any.