Liverpool Vs Atalanta: Jurgen Klopp Gets Additional Key Players In The European League

Trent Alexander-Arnold, (right) and Mo Salah will be Liverpool's key players when they host Atalanta (photo: x @TrentaA)

JAKARTA - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp received additional ammunition ahead of the first leg of the European League quarter-final against Atalanta BC, Thursday, April 12, where four key players returned to full training last Tuesday.

The Reds will host Gasperini's side at Anfield Stadium after a huge success with an 11-2 aggregate over Sparta Prague in the last 16, with a 5-1 win outside and a 6-1 win at home.

Liverpool are considered one of their favorites to advance deep in the European League, and they will compete with Benfica or Marseille in the semifinals if successful through Atalanta, before potentially meeting Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham United, AC Milan, or Roma in the final later.

Liverpool have some things to fix at the domestic level, due to their FA Cup hopes - and their quadruple dream - has been dashed after losing 4-3 to Manchester United last month.

In the match against United, Klopp still has to face the absence of seven players, some of whom may not be playing again this season. However, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, and Stefan Bajcetic returned to full training with the team on Tuesday, giving Klopp a big boost.

Alexander-Arnold and Jota have been absent since a knee injury two months ago, while Alisson has been sidelined due to illness and hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Bajcetic has only played twice this season due to groin and calf problems.

Klopp stated that the four are likely to participate in training with the team this week, but it remains to be seen if they will be played in the first leg of the quarter-finals.

However, Klopp still has to face the absence of three other injured players, including Joel Matip, Ben Doak, and Thiago Alcantara. Matip and Doak are recovering from serious knee injuries, while Alcantara are experiencing muscle problems that may end their season.

Liverpool have only one home game against Atalanta in the 2020-2021 Champions League group stage, with a 0-2 defeat, but they won 5-0 in Italy in the same year.