Atalanta progressed to the Europa League semi-finals despite losing 1-0 to Liverpool on Thursday as they triumphed 3-1 on aggregate to move one step closer to a first ever European final for the Serie A side.
Atalanta had stunned the Premier League club 3-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final last week at Anfield, levelling another huge blow to Liverpool's dreams of a fairytale ending in manager Juergen Klopp's final season. Liverpool got off to a quick start in Italy as talisman Mohammed Salah scored from the penalty spot in the seventh minute, fuelling hope that a remarkable comeback was in the making.
But while Klopp's men looked little like the shaky side who were steamrolled by Atalanta at Anfield, Gian Piero Gasperini's team held on in what the manager had called the biggest game in the team's history to earn a semi-final place. Read the game back below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis.
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Not a bad night for it.
Klopp: Atalanta challenge different to Barcelona comeback
Jurgen Klopp knows all about heroic comebacks in European competition but even their barnstorming fightback against Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League will not prepare them for tonight’s task in Atalanta.
Klopp's side suffered a resounding 3-0 home loss in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final and travel to Italy with a mountain to climb.
While they also trailed Barcelona by a 3-0 scoreline in the Champions League semi-final five years ago, their 4-0 victory in the return fixture came with the noisy backing of a vociferous home crowd, while Thursday's atmosphere will be very different.
"The result is similar definitely. The performance not really," Klopp said yesterday.
"We lost 3-0 in Barcelona and people didn't know how, now we lost 3-0 at home and are away, it's a massive difference. We are here and will try to win the game, that's all. That's what we should do.
"(Last week) we had really good moments but they completely deserved to win. Let's start with a much better performance and try to win the game and we will see how much time is left at the end."
So, Atalanta make two changes from last week's first leg. Kolasinac, formerly of Arsenal, shakes off an injury to start, as does Miranchuk. Pasalic and De Ketelaere drop out.
Chelsea fans will recognise wing-back Zappacosta on the right.
Liverpool make six switches from the first leg as Alisson, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson come into defence.
Nunez and Jota are on the bench, with Gakpo partnering Diaz and Salah in the front three.
Atalanta XI
...here’s how the hosts look!
Teams in full
Atalanta have not confirmed their team yet, but UEFA has.
Atalanta XI: Musso, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac, Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri, Koopmeiners, Miranchuk, Scamacca
Subs: Carnesecchi, Rossi, Toloi, Holm, Pasalic, Toure, Lookman, De Ketelaere, Bakker, Adopo, Hateboer, Bonfanti
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones, Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
Subs: Adrian, Kelleher, Gomez, Endo, Nunez, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Clark, Danns Quansah
Liverpool XI
Here we go.
No place for Jota or Nunez in the starting lineup. Confirmed XI to come.
It sounds like Gakpo starts for Liverpool tonight. Perhaps Klopp isn’t doing entirely full strength after all.
It's do or die for the Reds tonight. They must become the first team in UEFA Cup and Europa League history to overturn a three-goal first-leg home defeat to advance.
You wouldn’t rule it out...
Score prediction
Liverpool will be out for blood after several disappointing results in a row, although a three-goal deficit away from home will surely be too much to overcome.
Liverpool to win, 2-1 (agg 4-2).