Topic: EL: Liv 0 vs 3 Atal (1st leg) Scamacca 39’ 59’ Pastalic c83’

[TepidT2O]

Europa League quarter final, 1st leg, Thursday April 11th April 2024, Anfield, 8.00pm

vs

Forget about today.

As soon as it was official last year that we’d be competing in the Europa League this season, I was hoping we’d go all out and try and win it. It gets a bad rep, a huge reason being UEFA putting the majority of their interest in the Champions League but it’s a competition the club has a great history in, and has contributed to with some wonderful moments, as well some not some so joyous ones (Strasbourg away anyone?). Lest we forget, we got to the final when we last entered the competition, which culminated in a second half which took me a long time to get over. Klopp’s first season that was (seems like a lifetime ago!) so it’d be nice to come full circle and right that wrong in Klopp’s final game. I might also be able to watch Sturridge’s brilliant goal against Sevilla again.

And besides, who doesn’t want to see scenes like this again:

There was also a practical reason historically for wanting to win it, with the winners being guaranteed a place in Pot 1 in the Champions League the following season. However, with the new format of the Champions League, I don’t think that applies anymore, although the winner of this competition still qualifies for it. Don't want to jinx it but it looks like we won't need to worry about. So it's all about winning that beautiful trophy.

Atalana BC

So our quarter final opponents are Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio. Founded in 1907, and named after the Greek Goddess of running, archery and wrestling (that’s her on their crest), they’ve previously won the Coppa Italia, back in 1963. However, they’ve been enjoying a really successful period (possibly their most successful) since Gian Piero Gasperini took charge in 2016 - they qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history under him and have since done so twice more since.

Of course, we played met them in the group stages in 2020/2021, beating them 5-0 away before losing 2-0 in the reverse game. Still seems so surreal looking back (I would mute this if you don't want to lose some brain cells):

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/4_IHHJ_i-sY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/4_IHHJ_i-sY</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/e9AnDP3EJkw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/e9AnDP3EJkw</a>

This season, they’re doing ok too, are competing for Champions League place again (they’re 6th currently) and Italy, like England, are in prime position for 5th place to be enough to get it.

Just looking through their list of players and they’ve had such talents as Giuseppe Meazza, legendary sweeper Gaetano Scirea, Antonio Cabrini, Trevor Francis(!), Claudio Caniggia and Paolo Montero. Seems like they love selling to Juventus for some reason.

I also wanted to talk about some ex-reds that also played for Atalanta but alas, was only able to find Gabriel Paletta, who only played a handful of games whilst he was here but had a decent career in Italy, including 24 games for our opponents and got capped by the Azzzuri. Though funnily enough our soon to be Sporting Director Richard Hughes started his career playing for Atalanta’s youth team but never made a first team appearance for them. He’s not officially started his new role here either so not sure if I’m reaching a bit there.

Liverpool FC

Whilst we’re in the midst of a title challenge (yes, even after our last game), I’m so glad Klopp’s taking this competition seriously. I understand it rubs some people up the wrong way but it’d be amazing to win the trophy in Klopp’s final game. Don’t think we’ll have any easy ties from here on in, and Atalanta definitely won’t be a pushover, but with the first leg being at home, it’s a big chance for us to take a significant lead going to Italy next week. Personally, am for a strong a team as possible.

Jones is back from injury now but as it stands, our other previous absentees are still unavailable, although we’re hoping to have Alexander-Arnold and Jota back soon, possibly even for the second leg. We’ll know more after Klopp’s press conference on Wednesday.

A good victory to give us a strong position in the tie and some confidence going into the weekend please Reds.

[TepidT2O]

[duvva 💅]

That bench is a thing of beauty

[TepidT2O]

📋 #Atalanta team 🆚 #LFC: Musso, Zappacosta, Djimsiti, Hien, Ederson, Ruggeri, De Roon, Pasalic, De Ketelaere, Koopmeiners, Scamacca

🔄 Subs: Carnesecchi, Rossi, Toloi, Adopo, Bakker, Hateboer, Holm, Lookman, Miranchuk, Bilal Toure

[TepidT2O]

0 Atalanta get the tie underway. The reds are attacking the anfled road end in the first half

[TepidT2O]

2 Gakpo drives forwards and plays a nice ball too Nuñez. Darwin can’t get the ball under control to shoot though

[jillcwhomever]

Nice, positive run from Cody.

[duvva 💅]

What.A.Save

That was a clear foul on Harvey in the build up

[TepidT2O]

3 Elliot is Fluked buy the ref waves play on.  We don’t clear it and they have a great chance.  Keller saves it with his face.  He will have a shiner inthe morning!

Corner cleared well

But the reds break with Gakpo.  Anoither nice ball to Nuñez and his shot form a narrow angle is saved

[BobPaisley3]

Surely would have been disallowed

[TepidT2O]

5 Elliot is played into miles of space on the right, his cut back finds Mac who shoots over.

[TepidT2O]

Surely would have been disallowed

Never ever assume common sense will prevail

[BobPaisley3]

Never ever assume common sense will prevail

Fair point.

Good start from Gakpo

[jillcwhomever]

I like the way Cody is running so directly.

[TepidT2O]

7 Tsimikas in a good position but his cross is beyond everyone. He had lots to aim for.

Gakpo is a man possessed tonight.  It’s him against the world

[TepidT2O]

8 Gakpo wins a free kick 30 yards out on the right of the area.

They deal with it well.

Someone has had a third ready break, and that person is Cody Gakpo

[TepidT2O]

11 free kick at our end after one of their lot catches Tsimikas in the face.  He might have a black eye, but it’s hard to tell with him


Then Atalanta get the ball into our box and their shot is blocked (well done Konate)

[TepidT2O]

14 fre kick to them wide right.total waste and behind for a goal kick

[TepidT2O]

15 Jones with a brilliant pass to Nunez, but his shot goes wide.


Over to Jill,

[jillcwhomever]

15 He should have done a bit better there. 59% possession so far, and we've already had chances.

[jillcwhomever]

16 A sudden burst of pace in our attack, Gakpo did well to win the ball back and some really good, precise passing, we just need that finishing touch.

[jillcwhomever]

18 The Italians enjoy a little bit of possession, before we manage to win the ball back but again we can't get supply the finishing pass and eventually they come away with the ball again.

[jillcwhomever]

21 Kelleher forced to kick long but the ball comes back, we eventually play it out of our area and Gakpo wins a free kick for a pull on him.

[jillcwhomever]

23 When they attack they often have about four players pushing forward which is forcing us back on occasion when we are trying to play out the ball. It's a bit of a stalemate at the moment;.

[TepidT2O]

It’s all gone very stale

[jillcwhomever]

It’s all gone very stale

Typical Italian tactics, I would say. 

[TepidT2O]

FFS

[BobPaisley3]

How’s that stayed out?

[jillcwhomever]

25 A lot more promising there. We won a free kick with Hien getting a yellow card. They initially clear the free kick but it comes back out to Elliot and it's only just wide.

[TepidT2O]

How’s that stayed out?

Bar and post! How!?

[jillcwhomever]

27 Another good move there, involving Elliot, Jones and Gakpo we are noticeably giving them problems when we eject some pace into our passing.

[jillcwhomever]

28 Another opportunities, first Nunez can't control the ball on target, cleared and then falls to Jones who can bend the ball enough and it goes wide.

[Wabaloolah]

Bar and post! How!?

A Salah special that, without the goal

[jillcwhomever]

31 This game is a bit on and off, but the crowd are doing their best in urging the Reds forward when they can. We just can't quite find that finish yet.

Over to Sir Bob.

[BobPaisley3]

35 Lots of huff and puff but lacking in quality from both sides at the moment.

[TepidT2O]

Oh Kelleher

[BobPaisley3]

38 Atalanta lead. Cut back and scamacca scores. Kelleher has to save that, went under him

[jillcwhomever]

Yes, goalie's error, but again if you don't score there's always the chance of this. It was obvious they were growing in confidence and we look toothless at the moment.

[Wabaloolah]

38 Atalanta lead. Cut back and scamacca scores. Kelleher has to save that, went under him

yeah that was poor, he dived over the ball a bit close to him but you have to save that

[BobPaisley3]

40 Elliott overhits a cross. We’re lacking any sort of  creativity at the moment.