Last week’s result caught out all of us punters and football fans, but it certainly wasn’t an accident or the ‘unthinkable’ as the scoreline may have suggested – Atalanta were superb.

A handicap selection for Atalanta looks great value, Gasperini’s side have lost only three games at home across in all competitions this season, all ending with a 2-1 scoreline. This means that an Atalanta (+2) handicap selection has landed in all of their home outings this season – which certainly highlights the generous pricing of 1.50.

Atalanta have conceded just ten goals across their last 14 league matches at home and have certainly shown their attacking prowess in that period, scoring 31 goals. Considering their massive attacking threat in the first leg, we should expect Atalanta to get on the scoresheet once again.

A (+2) handicap means that Atalanta will essentially start the game 2-0 up, and if the hosts can score just once, Liverpool would need to score three goals for the bet to lose.

Liverpool have shown their consistent defensive vulnerabilities and are without a clean sheet in nine matches across all competitions.

Atalanta have just one home defeat in 11 outings and have lost only one of their last 16 home games in the Champions/Europa League (W10 D5) – it won’t be easy for Liverpool to get a result.

Liverpool have it all to do and will cherish the opportunity to record another memorable comeback to the collection.

Firstly, the hosts have failed to score at home only once this season, which happened back in October, meaning Atalanta have scored in 15 consecutive home matches. La Dea are averaging 1.84 goals for per 90 in Serie A and have scored in all nine of their Europa League matches in this campaign.

Three or more goals have been scored in six of Atalanta’s last seven games and with Liverpool throwing men forward, they should be able to capitalise on an open backline.

Liverpool may have failed to score in two consecutive games but there’s no doubting their attacking strength. The Reds had scored in 24 consecutive games before last week’s first leg, blanking on only one occasion this season.

The visitors have also been deadly in this competition, scoring 25 goals across their nine EL outings.

The hero of the first leg, Gianluca Scamacca, has continued his exquisite form for Atalanta as he got on the scoresheet once again at the weekend, the Italian has seven goals in eight games. Scamacca has scored in four consecutive games in the Europa League and is looking a real threat.

The former West Ham striker averages an impressive 3.59 shots per 90 in Italy this season, with 1.64 shots on target. More impressively, he has hit the target at least once in eight consecutive matches for Atalanta, accumulating a total of 11 shots on target in that time.

Switching focus to the visitors that will certainly need to bring their A-game, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah were naively benched last week but expect them to start in this leg.

Luiz Diaz has been enjoying his best season in a Liverpool shirt, picking up 11 goals across all competitions, and has certainly found success in this competition, scoring three goals in six appearances.

Diaz is averaging a very respectable 3.36 shots per 90 this season, and 1.12 shots on target per 90. He has hit the target in five of his last six games for Liverpool, including during his 31-minute appearance in the first leg. In this time, he’s had 19 attempts at goal and scored two goals – he’s playing with confidence.

Salah has hit the target in ten consecutive matches and on 2+ occasions in five of his last seven matches, picking up four goals and three assists in that period. Despite only playing 335 minutes in the Europa League, he has four goals and four assists and will no doubt play a huge part in Liverpool’s attempted comeback.

The Egyptian king boasts an impressive 1.09 xG+A per 90 so far this season and is priced well to grab a goal involvement on Thursday.

Liverpool are prolific corner takers, averaging the second-most corners per 90 in the Premier League behind title rivals Manchester City. The Reds average 7.50 corners per game in England’s top-flight and have been ruthless in picking up set pieces in recent matches.

Liverpool have taken 11+ corners in five of their last seven league matches, picking up 8 and 7 corners in the remaining games. This includes tallies of 11 and 12 corners in their last two away fixtures.

Atalanta have faced 4+ corners in four consecutive matches which extends out to eight of their last nine, and considering the continuous pressure from Liverpool in this tie, we should expect plenty of opportunities for corners.

Liverpool have scored some pretty iconic goals from corners when chasing the game in big European ties and they have a history of rallying up high corner totals during those efforts. Liverpool took nine corners when trailing by three goals to Real Madrid in the Champions League RO16 last season and took 11 corners against the same opponent when trailing by two in the 2021 quarter-finals.

Mario Pasalic managed to get his name on the scoresheet in the last leg and was heavily involved in his side’s hard-fought victory. A tough midfield battle made him busy, he managed an interception, two successful tackles and 11 ball recoveries. But he also committed two fouls.

Palisic is not a serial fouler for Atalanta, conceding 0.86 fouls per 90 in Serie A, but he could certainly be drawn into a few late challenges to disrupt the visitors’ momentum as they look to get themselves back into the tie.

He has committed 1+ fouls in three of his last six matches and will once again be a huge part of Atalanta’s efforts to secure a place in the final four, no matter the consequence. The Croatian will be battling the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszali, who draw 1.66, 1.46 and 1.26 fouls per 90.

Carrying on with Atalanta’s discipline, Thursday’s hosts have made the 4th-most fouls in Serie A and have picked up 67 yellows from 31 games – 2.16 yellows per 90.

Atalanta were shown two yellow cards in the first leg at Anfield and with Liverpool likely to dominate possession once more, the hosts will be vulnerable to pick up more fouls and more yellow cards.

Time-wasting from the Atalanta players is also a strong possibility if Liverpool are given a single sniff at getting a result, and the hosts have picked up 2+ cards in four of their last five matches across all competitions.