Despite the absence of key players, Marten De Roon and Robin Gosens in Tuesday’s mouth-watering Champions League clash with Liverpool, Atalanta’s coach, Gian Piero Gasperini has expressed confidence his side will gain the desired result.
The Italian side made the headline in last season’s campaign when they overcame the odds to reach the quarter final stage of the competition as debutant.
Thus, the side would seek to replicate such performance as the season rolls out.
Gasperini told Gianluca di Marzio, “I believe for us the two matches with Liverpool are fundamental. We will face off with the best team in the group.
“It is important to gain results in these matches to give us a small advantage over Ajax.
“In football the strongest team doesn’t always win. If you are weaker, you can earn a result. This is what we hope to do.
“De Roon and Gosens will be out,” Gasperini said.
On the other hand, a fresh injury boost for the Anfield giant after Liverpool made the journey to Bergamo with Naby Keita and Joel Matip among the travellers after the pair returned to full training on Sunday.
Kostas Tsimikas, who last featured for Liverpool on September 24, also boarded the flight to Italy having participated in in the Melwood session that preceded the Reds’ trip.
However Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp revealed Thiago Alcantara has yet to rejoin his teammates in training following the injury he sustained last month.
“Naby and Joel trained yesterday with the team, full, Thiago didn’t. So, that’s the situation,” the boss, who reported no new injuries from the 2-1 win over West Ham United, told Liverpoolfc.com.
“I have really no idea what I do with this information in the moment because yes, they trained, that’s good, it’s better than if they don’t train. But we have to see what we do with it.
“We have another day to make these decisions. A lot of players will be on the plane hopefully, and so decisions will be made late, late, late,” Klopp said.
“We have to wait pretty much until the medical department gives us green or orange or red light, pretty much,” added Klopp at his pre-match press conference.
The Reds sits top of group D having secured six points from two games against Ajax and Midtjyland who are placed third and fourth respectively with a point difference between them.
Thus, a win in tonight’s encounter for the host will see them leap frog Liverpool with a point.
