Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has told his team to prepare for a “very disciplined” Atalanta when they face Italy in the Europa League quarter-finals at Anfield on Thursday.
Atalanta defeated Portugal's Sporting Lisbon in the previous round, but have won just two of their last nine matches in all competitions.
Despite this, Klopp expects Atalanta, managed by long-time manager Gian Piero Gasperini, to cause problems for Liverpool.
“There are only great teams left in this competition,” Klopp said at Wednesday's pre-match press conference.
“It was really good and we know what Atalanta is all about. Gasperini has done a great job there for years, but it's difficult to play against Italian teams, it always has been.”
“Tactically they are very disciplined and very dangerous in many areas, so we have to do our best in these two matches to advance to the next round.”
Klopp, in his final season at Anfield, said Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker could feature against Atalanta after being injured since February.
“Obviously we didn't rush into working with the players,” Klopp said. “I mean, they trained a lot on their own. Diogo and Trent practiced as a group for a couple of weeks ago and were able to get a really proper workout in. Yesterday (Tuesday) was very it was good.”
“It's always difficult to get players back into the team, but obviously it should be a little bit easier given the quality they have and we will be using them in the coming days and weeks. What it means for tomorrow, I didn't make a decision yet. ”
Meanwhile, Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott has insisted he is ready to step up to a starting role rather than being considered merely as a substitute.
“I want to be the guy who goes out, not the guy who goes in,” said Elliott, 21.
“That doesn't mean I don't appreciate being on the pitch, I'm very grateful for every opportunity I get in a Liverpool shirt, but for me it's about kicking on for myself and being part of the team. It's about solidifying your position.
“I'm not a kid anymore. I'm a man. I'm growing up fast. I feel like I need to take responsibility into my own hands. If that means knocking on the director's door. We need to do that.''But at the same time, we need to wait for opportunities and be patient.''
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