News'Very interesting' - Jürgen Klopp's reaction to Europa League tie with Atalanta

Today’s draw for the next round of the competition paired the Reds with the Serie A side, with leg one to be played at Anfield on April 11 and the return in Italy seven days later.

Liverpool met Atalanta under Klopp in the Champions League group stage of 2020-21, winning 5-0 on the road before a 2-0 defeat at home.

Asked for his reaction to the draw at his subsequent pre-Manchester United press conference, the manager said: “Tricky. Atalanta, we played there [before].

“It’s now not that I watched them since then 500 times but still the same manager, I’m pretty sure a similar structure – which means uncomfortable to play against, very well organised.

“But it’s [a] quarter-final, I didn’t expect – it was not possible actually with all the teams involved – any easy opponent.

“Very interesting, really looking forward to it, let’s see what we can do. But a lot of respect for what Atalanta is doing in the last years, very consistent. Good.”