Liverpool FC News Recap: Europa League opponents revealed, injury update & new contract alert

Liverpool will face Italian side Atalanta in this season's Europa League quarter-final following Friday's draw in Switzerland. 

Liverpool secured their spot in the final eight by thrashing Sparta Prague 11-2 on aggregate in the last 16, including a 6-1 victory on Merseyside on Thursday.

The Reds will now come up against Gian Piero Gasperini's Serie A outfit over two legs next month, the first of which will take place at Anfield on 11 April.

If Jurgen Klopp's men make it past the Bergamo club, they will face the winner of the quarter-final between Benfica and Marseille in the last four.

That means that the Reds are still able to face Xabi Alonso's unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in the final in May.

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JURGEN KLOPP PROVIDES HUGE INJURY UPDATE

Klopp has revealed that Ibrahima Konate is unlikely to feature for the Reds against Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday, but Bobby Clark and Ryan Gravenberch are both available for the trip.

Konate didn't train on Friday and is in a "tight race" against time to be declared fit for the journey to Old Trafford, with Klopp admitting that it's a race that Liverpool will "probably lose."

In better news, the midfield duo of Clark - who was injured against Sparta on Thursday - and Gravenberch are ready for the weekend, offering Liverpool greater options in the engine room.

Klopp also confirmed that Liverpool are likely to have Curtis Jones back for the clash with Brighton after the March international break, while Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold could be available the week after the Seagulls visit Anfield.

Stefan Bajcetic should also be returning to action in the near future, with Klopp claiming he could feature in team training after the upcoming internationals.

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JAYDEN DANNS SIGNS NEW LONG-TERM DEAL

Liverpool have tied impressive 18-year-old forward Jayden Danns down to a new contract this Friday after the youngster's remarkable performances in recent weeks.

Danns was offered his first senior minutes in the 4-1 victory over Luton Town in February and also appeared in the Carabao Cup final victory against Chelsea.

However, the starlet announced himself properly with a delightful two-goal cameo against Southampton in the FA Cup at the end of February, and the striker has now signed a new long-term contract with the club.

The local lad also featured off the bench against Nottingham Forest, where he actually suffered a concussion. As a result, he hasn't featured in the last three games, although he did return to the bench against Sparta on Thursday.

The likes of James McConnell, Bobby Clark and Conor Bradley have all signed new long-term deals already this season.

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XABI ALONSO NAMES LIVERPOOL AS EUROPA LEAGUE FAVOURITES

Xabi Alonso has said that Liverpool are favourites to win this season's Europa League, even ahead of his impressive Bayer Leverkusen side.

The Spaniard saw his team pull off another remarkable late comeback against Qarabag on Thursday as they sealed their spot in the quarter-final, where they will face Premier League West Ham United.

However, despite his Leverkusen side having not tasted defeat in their last 37 matches, the former Liverpool midfielder believes his old employers are best placed to win this year's Europa League crown.

"For me it’s clear, I really see Liverpool as the favourites to win the Europa League," Alonso said prior to Friday's quarter-final draw.

The Reds are desperate for Alonso to replace Klopp at the end of the current season, but the 42-year-old is understandably yet to make a decision on his future.

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SURPRISE MANAGERIAL CANDIDATE EMERGES

French football journalist Jonathan Johnson has suggested that RC Lens manager Franck Haise could be a surprise candidate to replace Klopp at the end of the season.

The Lens coach helped the Ligue 1 outfit finish runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain last season, with his side even beating Arsenal in this year's Champions League - although they dropped out of the competition at the group stage.

According to Johnson, Haise is a name that Liverpool have shown interest in before, with the manager having overperformed during his four years in charge of Lens.

"Although we’ve heard a lot about names like Xabi Alonso and Roberto De Zerbi, Lens manager Franck Haise has also been linked as one potential outsider for the Liverpool job after his impressive work in Ligue 1," said Johnson.

"My understanding is that, yes, there has been interest in him going back a couple of years now, not just from Liverpool but also from other clubs across Europe."

A move for the 52-year-old seems unlikely but Johnson has suggested that he shares certain similarities with Klopp as a coach.

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