Liverpool predicted Starting XI for Atalanta 2nd Leg

The Reds face a 3 goal deficit as they travel to Italy on Thursday.
Liverpool FC v Atalanta: Quarter-Final First Leg - UEFA Europa League 2023/24
Liverpool FC v Atalanta: Quarter-Final First Leg - UEFA Europa League 2023/24 / Visionhaus/GettyImages
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Liverpool do not come into Thursday's Europa League Quarterfinal 2nd Leg with Atalanta riding a huge wave of momentum.

Their frustrating loss on Sunday in the Premier League to Crystal Palace compounded what was a brutal week for the Reds. Now, their first step to righting the ship starts in Bergamo, Italy, the home of Atalanta.

Liverpool heads to Italy facing a 3-goal deficit and with a lot of work to do following the debacle that was the first leg at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp can play this one of two ways. First, he could just throw in the towel and play a severely weakened side as he puts all his chips in the Premier League basket. Second, and I think most likely, he fields a strong lineup to try and get an early goal to really make things interesting.

Some big name players are not in very good form so we should see some new players given the opportunity to rescue the tie.

Let's take a look how Klopp could lineup his side for Thursday's second leg.

Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson

Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott, Dominik Szoboszlai

Forwards: Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo

Probable Subs: Darwin Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch, Luis Diaz, Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez

Something needs to change and the lack of clincial finishing from the likes of Nunez and Diaz means they get dropped for two new options. Gakpo had two bright appearances off the bench in the last two matches and he has earned the start.

Jota should have shaken off the rust from his return and will get the start at the head of the line. Elliott is another player rewarded with a start for his endeavor off the bench in recent outings.

He has been one of the few Liverpool players to play with passion and energy and that will be needed in a hostile environment in this one.

Wataru Endo has been in a rough patch of form and needs to be sat for this one. A defensive midfielder is not really the best weapon to deploy when you need to score at least 3 goals in a match. Klopp must go aggressive with his lineup and this is a casualty of that.

Projecting ahead, this lineup, if everyone is on the same page, should give Atalanta some problems. If Liverpool can get an early goal or two, this tie will really crank up and the confidence could begin flowing back to the Reds.

It will all come down to the start though to instill some belief in the boys.

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