What should Liverpool do to win against Atalanta in the second leg?
Liverpool had the teaching of their lives at Anfield against Atalanta in the Quarter-Finals of the UEFA Europa League. It was a performance so disjointed that a scoreline of 3-0 felt like it let the visitors down. Nevertheless, fair play to the Serie A side. A brace from Gianluca Scamacca and another goal from Mario Pasalic meant Liverpool shall trail on their visit to the Gewiss Stadium.
Now, what can Liverpool do to come over from a three-goal deficit and win the tie? Well, for starters, it is the new-gen UCL comeback against Barcelona, just less glittery. Following the returns of numerous players from injury spells, the Reds will simply have to play their best possible lineup to win against a team that is almost certain to play with a minimum of eight men behind the ball.
According to the club’s official website’s latest injury update, some players can form a part of the matchday squad in Bergamo next week after their return from injury spells. Alisson goes in goal without doubt. Caoimhin Kelleher has been brilliant for sure, but there is a reason why AB1 is numero uno.
What to do?
No matter how good Conor Bradley plays against Crystal Palace [if he does] if Trent Alexander-Arnold stands fit enough to start, he will. We simply cannot let our most creative player sit on the bench if it is not an injury risk. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate HAVE to form the core of the defence.
Kostas Tsimikas started against Gli Orobici but was not up to the mark. He can start the game against Crystal Palace, but to win away from home in Italy, we have to throw Andy Robertson into the lineup. He can put a full-back and the winger on his side to sleep only with this energetic running up and down the field.
Curtis Jones starting a game so early after coming back from injury was a shocker, especially considering we had another option right there. Wataru Endo is fit, he should start. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai on either side of the Japanese international will provide just the right balance in the middle of the park for Jurgen Klopp’s men,
Our front-three!
Now, of the front three. It seemed like only two players (one coming off the bench) tried to take Liverpool over the line. Harvey Elliott seemed like a player running all over the place, but he is better off in midfield than on the wings, considering he does not have the luxury of explosive pace, like first-choice right-winger Mohamed Salah.
Darwin Nunez needs a reality check. The broader fanbase cannot sugarcoat his inability in front of goal and cite world-class movement as an alternative. You have Diogo Jota, who can literally appear to be invisible throughout the game but turn up at just the decisive moments.
That’s what you need. You need clutch players. Diogo Jota has to start up front with Mo on his right, and Gakpo on his left who was the only starting player trying to do something against Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.
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Jurgen Klopp has more often than not, timed his substitutions to perfection this season. Hopefully, that trend continues. Let’s hope for a win regardless.
