Pre-Match: Liverpool v Atalanta EL QF 1st Leg Thurs 11th April 20:00 Kick Off

Another big game on Thursday against Italian side Atalanta, who currently sit 6th in Serie A.

They have won 2 of their last 6 in all competitions.

Current notable players in their squad include ex-Everton forward Ademola Lookman, ex-West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca, ex-Chelsea full back Davide Zappacosta and ex-Arsenal centre back Sead Kolasinac.

They are managed by Gian Gasperini and play a 3-4-1-2 formation.

They lost 2-1 in their last league match on Sunday against Cagliari, who won the game in the 88th minute.

I expect us to make a few changes, I think a few of our lads look a bit leggy and a couple could just generally do with a rest likewise a few need some extra minutes. We play Crystal Palace 3 days after this game so that needs bearing in mind also. I’ve put my suggested subs in brackets:

Kelleher

Gomez
Konate (Quansah)
Van Dijk (c)
Robertson (Tsimikas)

Elliott
Endo
Gravenberch (Nunez - Gakpo to CM)

Salah (Mac Allister) - Elliott to RW
Gakpo
Jones (Diaz)

Subs:

Adrian (GK)
Mrozek (GK)
Bradley
Quansah
Tsimikas
Mac Allister
Szoboszlai
Clark
Nunez
Diaz
Danns
Gordon

Injured:

Alisson (GK)
Alexander-Arnold
Matip
Thiago
Bajcetic
Jota
Doak

Should be beating these without too much worry even if we put 80% of our strongest side out, bar some stand out wins they've been terrible most of the season.

This has become more than a trophy we should win, we need to win it.

Kelleher Gomez Konate Virgil Kostas Endo Harvey Grav Salah Nunez Gakpo

12-0.

12-0.

You're being awful kind to Atalanta

You're being awful kind to Atalanta

Are they that bad?

Need this game to wash out the taste of yesterday's debacle. Thankfully we've got injured players returning and now have a squad capable of competing on both fronts. Certainly I would expect Gomez, Tsimikas, Elliott, Gravenburch, Konate and Gakpo all to start. I daresay Jones may also start and get 60 minutes with a view to possibly starting at Palace at the weekend. 

Need Curtis to get up to speed quick so hopefully he gets a decent number of minutes. We have to use our squad depth as we have the players to win the tie and still keep the backbone of the team fresh.

Hopefully we can win this competion, giving Jürgen the full set of trophies, whilst he has been at the club.

Whilst I realise the Premier League is the main prize, it would be great to pick up, another european trophy.

Let's progress a step further by beating Atalanta, on Thursday evening.

You're being awful kind to Atalanta

..be lucky to get nil..

Need this game to wash out the taste of yesterday's debacle. Thankfully we've got injured players returning and now have a squad capable of competing on both fronts. Certainly I would expect Gomez, Tsimikas, Elliott, Gravenburch, Konate and Gakpo all to start. I daresay Jones may also start and get 60 minutes with a view to possibly starting at Palace at the weekend.

Get friggin' Jota out there..even if he's still on crutches..

For the love of god please keep Konate away from the XI so he can play the league game on Sunday - was an absolute joke he played against Sheffield United and not yesterday.

If we keep playing Koante in this and Quansah in the league then consider me baffled.

As well, if we can't rely on Konate to play a few games a week then maybe he isn't what we need? No good having a lambo in the garage if the only day you can take it for a spin is on Fridays.

As well, if we can't rely on Konate to play a few games a week then maybe he isn't what we need? No good having a lambo in the garage if the only day you can take it for a spin is on Fridays.

Or it breaks down 🤷‍♂️

As well, if we can't rely on Konate to play a few games a week then maybe he isn't what we need? No good having a lambo in the garage if the only day you can take it for a spin is on Fridays.

True but its where we are for now so better waiting for the prem games.

Would go: Kelleher..Brad..Joe..VVD ..Robbo...Elliott..Endo. .Mac...Mo...Gakpo...Diaz . 4-0.

Would go: Kelleher..Brad..Joe..VVD ..Robbo...Elliott..Endo. .Mac...Mo...Gakpo...Diaz . 4-0.

Very decent side, hope it is endorsed by Jürgen, question is can we keep a clean sheet. Been giving goals away for fun lately.

Have to take advantage of being at home, full on for me, if Konate is fit he starts,  despite Sunday’s sh*t show up,top I’m keeping with that triple and allow them to bury that particular ghost, Kelleher between the sticks before he stands down for Ali and I’m hoping Jota makes the bench,…….

…………………Kelleher
   Bradley Konate Virgil Robbo
                   Endo
     Szlobo.              Macca
        Salah            Diaz
                 Nunez

Decent outfit are Atalanta, getting to this stage of this particular competition is no mean feat so their certainly no mugs, however, lying mid table in a inferior league says they are probably punching above their weight expecting to get passed us,
And trying to get passed us when we are licking our wounds, at home, in a raucous rocking Anfield I reckon there’s as much chance as a snowball has in the Sahara Desert!!

Can’t help but think this is a one leg tie and it will be done and dusted prior to landing in Italy next week.


4-0 Europa league winners elect



YNWA

Looking forward to Klopp's presser in about an hours time, especially with what he has to say about the players returning.

No flags tonight due to ticket price protest

For the love of god please keep Konate away from the XI so he can play the league game on Sunday - was an absolute joke he played against Sheffield United and not yesterday.

This.

As i said last week in the konate player thread, leave him out against sheff utd and he can play 7 of the last 8 league games with a mixture of 6/7/8 days in between only missing the midweek everton game. What do we do, play him thursday and then have him and Joe sat on the bench at united and quansah starting. Absolute joke.

So .... save him for Palace  , who are a physical side and slot Joe in alongside Virg tomorrow. But , why help ourselves? He will no doubt start tomorrow and Quansah back in on sunday. Bizarre.

Would go: Kelleher..Brad..Joe..VVD ..Robbo...Elliott..Endo. .Mac...Mo...Gakpo...Diaz . 4-0.

Id go with this. Maybe Jones in for harvey? Jones is certainly pushing for a place and harvey seems more of an impact from the bench.

Id give Jota a cameo ... 10 or 15 minutes at the end to warm him up for Palace

No flags tonight due to ticket price protest

That'll show em!!!!!

No flags tonight due to ticket price protest

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn

How about we keep the flags and ban the protesters.

I’d be looking to go with:


              Kelleher


Gomez.  Konate.  VVD.  Tsimikas


                    Endo

          Elliott.         Jones


 Salah.                           Diaz

                  Gakpo

Decent outfit are Atalanta, getting to this stage of this particular competition is no mean feat so their certainly no mugs, however, lying mid table in a inferior league says they are probably punching above their weight expecting to get passed us,
And trying to get passed us when we are licking our wounds, at home, in a raucous rocking Anfield I reckon there’s as much chance as a snowball has in the Sahara Desert!!

Can’t help but think this is a one leg tie and it will be done and dusted prior to landing in Italy next week.


4-0 Europa league winners elect



YNWA

How come is it when you play someone sh*te you all say decent side these and won’t be a roll over. 😂 Yet when other teams play them you say another fcuking easy draw blah blah blah.   

Up the reds. Be nice to have at least a a 2 goal lead going into 2nd leg.

How come is it when you play someone sh*te you all say decent side these and won’t be a roll over. 😂 Yet when other teams play them you say another fcuking easy draw blah blah blah.   

Cos we’re all f***in fickle as F**k, wear tints 99% of the time and we’re all born liars and bull shitters !!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🖕🏿🖕🏾🖕🖕🏿🖕🏾🖕🖕🏿🖕🏾🖕🖕🏿🖕🏾🖕🖕🏿🖕🖕🏾🖕🖕🏿🖕🖕🏾🖕🖕🏿🖕🖕🏾🖕🏿🖕🖕🏾🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🖕🏻


YNWA

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn

How about we keep the flags and ban the protesters.

Perfect response from someone who hasn’t been near the ground in his life

Perfect response from someone who hasn’t been near the ground in his life

Are you one of the protesters LiP?

I'm willing to bet I probably live closest to Anfield than anyone here considering I can see the new Bramley Moore from outside my office window so I wouldn't be so sure on that 1.

Cos we’re all f***in fickle as F**k, wear tints 99% of the time and we’re all born liars and bull shitters !!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🖕🏿🖕🏾🖕🖕🏿🖕🏾🖕🖕🏿🖕🏾🖕🖕🏿🖕🏾🖕🖕🏿🖕🖕🏾🖕🖕🏿🖕🖕🏾🖕🖕🏿🖕🖕🏾🖕🏿🖕🖕🏾🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🖕🏻


YNWA

Best post youve put up in years even though I can’t see it coz your on ignore. 😂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui9DoKr1p9g



I think if the protestors want to really protest...send the flags, leave themselves at home.

Two minor increases in the last what....7 or 8 years is not the end of the world. I'd focus more on making it easier first for locals that want to go to a game to be able to go without paying hospitality prices and second...for supporters from other countries that want to come and see a match it would be great if there was a way to buy a ticket so you can plan a trip and not have to hope that there's something available...or have to pay an exorbitant hospitality price. I'd love to come over to see a match one of these days, but I have air fare (at least $1500), transportation once I get in the country and then lodging and a ticket to the game. Lodging probably the easiest and cheapest to sort. Who knows if I'll ever get to come over but it will cost an arm and a leg if I do.

It sounds like the season ticket holders have a stranglehold on things with no real way for younger fans to break that stranglehold and be able to rock up and go to a game. Correct me if I'm wrong but that seems not ideal in the least.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui9DoKr1p9g



I think if the protestors want to really protest...send the flags, leave themselves at home.

Two minor increases in the last what....7 or 8 years is not the end of the world. I'd focus more on making it easier first for locals that want to go to a game to be able to go without paying hospitality prices and second...for supporters from other countries that want to come and see a match it would be great if there was a way to buy a ticket so you can plan a trip and not have to hope that there's something available...or have to pay an exorbitant hospitality price. I'd love to come over to see a match one of these days, but I have air fare (at least $1500), transportation once I get in the country and then lodging and a ticket to the game. Lodging probably the easiest and cheapest to sort. Who knows if I'll ever get to come over but it will cost an arm and a leg if I do.

It sounds like the season ticket holders have a stranglehold on things with no real way for younger fans to break that stranglehold and be able to rock up and go to a game. Correct me if I'm wrong but that seems not ideal in the least.

You're 100% spot on with everything you've said.

Living outside the UK and trying to plan everything accordingly (flight, accommodation and match ticket(s)) plus any extra travel from airport/station to stadium and being lucky enough to not hit any trouble is extremely difficult.

FSG should wait until we have a couple more trophies in the bag, before putting up the prices. Fans do not deserve to be fleeced, by these money grabbers !

FSG should wait until we have a couple more trophies in the bag, before putting up the prices. Fans do not deserve to be fleeced, by these money grabbers !

They could've also put the prices up before they did when we were winning trophies, perhaps they had 2nd thoughts and pushed it back until after covid.

Prices have gone up 4% in the last decade, that's 2.5x less than Arsenal and 3x less than Utd so what they've done is hardly unreasonable & I think the supporters trust groups you have out there are more vexed that they weren't approached about it before the decision was made.....we can blame FSG for a lot of things but this isn't one of them.

I wish anything that I have bought on a regular basis in the last 3 or 4 years had only gone up in price by 2%. That would be fantastic.

 The increase will make them around £1mil

They've made record profits

The corp tickets wil be costing around £1k

It’s nothing but greed.

The CL next season goes to 10 games at the group stage.  So thats another 2 home games that will cost fans an extra £120.00

With the increase its close to an extra £150 to pay out when many in the area are already feeling the pinch

Many local fans are already being priced out

Maybe it's different over the ocean...when people in this country are "feeling the pinch" we usually start cutting back on things like sporting events and non-necessary expenditures. Just sayin.



The cheapest season ticket is around 700 quid? So a 2% increase is 14 quid?

That doesn't really seem like it's the end of the world. You pay 700 quid but 14 is going to be the difference between getting medicine or food or going without?

The increase will make them around £1mil

They've made record profits

The corp tickets wil be costing around £1k

It’s nothing but greed.

The CL next season goes to 10 games at the group stage.  So thats another 2 home games that will cost fans an extra £120.00

With the increase its close to an extra £150 to pay out when many in the area are already feeling the pinch

Many local fans are already being priced out

Although it is a modest increase, I question whether it's really necessary if it's only going to bring in an extra £1m? Why do it at all in the current economic climate. There are a whole load of ways the club could make (or save) an extra £1m if it has to, whereas for many supporters the game is expensive enough as it is.

Although it is a modest increase, I question whether it's really necessary if it's only going to bring in an extra £1m? Why do it at all in the current economic climate. There are a whole load of ways the club could make (or save) an extra £1m if it has to, whereas for many supporters the game is expensive enough as it is.

Exactly

It might not even be £1mil , mate reckons it’s going to be around £600k

Maybe it's different over the ocean...when people in this country are "feeling the pinch" we usually start cutting back on things like sporting events and non-necessary expenditures. Just sayin.

The cheapest season ticket is around 700 quid? So a 2% increase is 14 quid?

That doesn't really seem like it's the end of the world. You pay 700 quid but 14 is going to be the difference between getting medicine or food or going without?

The supporters’ trust like to use hyperbole to the extreme in all their statements, using words like “foodbanks”, the truth is on no condition would they accept a price increase, the only time you hear about them is either in regards to Hillsborough or campaigning against ticket prices.

Bottom line is if attending football matches is making it hard for your family to put food on the table or a roof over their heads, then you need to figure out your priorities.

Maths clearly isn’t LiP’s forte, “extra £120 for fans”, no it won’t. It gives the chance for thousands of others that queue daily for tickets unsuccessfully to get to a game at the extortionate increase of £1.20 compared to last season. The decision to change the CL format to add more games has nothing to do with LFC or FSG plus STH’s are getting these extra 2 home games included as part of the increase.

Best post youve put up in years even though I can’t see it coz your on ignore. 😂

Who’s the daft Cnut now ye dafty, how do you know it’s my best post in years if you haven’t read it Spunk monkey ??
Keep licking them windows sunshine, you’re special 🤣🤣🤣🤣 🖕🖕🏾🖕🏿



YNWA

The increase will make them around £1mil

They've made record profits

The corp tickets wil be costing around £1k

It’s nothing but greed.

The CL next season goes to 10 games at the group stage.  So thats another 2 home games that will cost fans an extra £120.00

With the increase its close to an extra £150 to pay out when many in the area are already feeling the pinch

Many local fans are already being priced out

And of course that affects the atmosphere inside the ground, we’ve seen/heard  the lack of atmosphere because of too many day trippers not knowing songs or reluctance to actually support, sometimes on the tv all you hear are away supporters belting out their songs, and I’m sat there wondering where the F**k is the famous Anfield crowd ??

This will happen more often when local supporters are priced out in favour of the prawn sandwich brigade, bus loads of them coming to experience “Anfield” like going to a museum rather than to support the boys, and obviously spend a sh*t load on clobber & Merch in the club shop, which is exactly what the owners would love ??


Like you Lall, I think we have the best owners in the league and we couldn’t really ask for anyone better, however their pissin against the wind here and it’s only going to end with mass walk outs like before, now if they hadn’t extended the main stand & the Annie Rd end and we hadn’t qualified for Europe I’d doubt they’d even consider any increase, but they have and therefore by doing so have already inflated their income, add the tv monies, and the extra matches in the CL, this just looks like a piss take, their 2% may not seem a lot to them but it makes a hell of a difference if you’re already struggling!!

I’m stopping short of calling the greedy piggy fuckwits but, they’re on thin ice and should re-evaluate what they are proposing??


YNWA

With the amount of money passing through the club, they could have afforded to lose £1m. Now that would have been a terrific gesture to say we’re on the same side as the fans, and lower the prices by 2%.  🤷‍♂️

Just Saying like.

Gone for a 4  0 scoreline for the Reds against Atalanta lately. Being optimistic that we do not "gift" the opposition with a silly goal.

Certainly could do with converting the chances created, especially by our front players.

Can't see Salah,Bradley ,Dom,Diaz,Robbo playng and just can't see how Konate doesn't start . So I am going
Kelleher
Gomez
Ibou
VVD
Tzimikas
Endo
Jones
Mac
Elliott
Darwin
Gakpo

No flags tonight due to ticket price protest

That’s a level one protest. The ultimate protest is to empty out the stands at KO. But I think the owners will go you can try. If you ain’t filling up my seats, others will. See who has the last laugh. It’s a see saw cat and mouse game of demand and supply on how to price “world class live entertainment”.

That’s a level one protest. The ultimate protest is to empty out the stands at KO. But I think the owners will go you can try. If you ain’t filling up my seats, others will. See who has the last laugh. It’s a see saw cat and mouse game of demand and supply on how to price “world class live entertainment”.

Guess you weren’t around last time when the fans walked out

I can't wait to see DJ back in action!!  We need him fit and firing for the run in!!  A fit Jota would have had a hat trick against Utd last time out....

I can't wait to see DJ back in action!!  We need him fit and firing for the run in!!  A fit Jota would have had a hat trick against Utd last time out....

F***ing love DJ! I’m buzzing to see him too.

F***ing love DJ! I’m buzzing to see him too.

He finds the back of the net, when fit, need his goals for the final run in.

Can't see Salah,Bradley ,Dom,Diaz,Robbo playng and just can't see how Konate doesn't start . So I am going
Kelleher
Gomez
Ibou
VVD
Tzimikas
Endo
Jones
Mac
Elliott
Darwin
Gakpo

Wasn't far off at all . Konate not even in squad 😒