Reds’ focus turns to Europe as Atalanta await on Thursday

Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC host Atalanta at Anfield on Thursday night in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final.

Liverpool FC continue their push to win three trophies in Jürgen Klopp’s final season as manager, with Atalanta the visitors to Anfield on Thursday night.

The Reds, who have already lifted the Carabao Cup at Wembley, know that this could be the most successful season of Klopp’s nine-year reign, and the UEFA Europa League remains the only trophy that the German has not won on his way to become one of the club’s all-time great managers.

Key to success on Thursday night will be shaking off any disappointment at Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United FC at Old Trafford.

Luis Diaz had opened the scoring for the visiting Reds in the first half, before Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo turned the game in United’s favour. Mohamed Salah’s late penalty saved a point for LFC, and midfielder Wataru Endo stressed the importance of remaining positive as the season reaches its climax.

"We're disappointed about the result because we had a lot of chances in the first half,” insisted the Japan captain.

"I think we could have scored more and we could play better. We're disappointed about the result.

"We knew that we needed to start strong from the beginning of the game – I think we did from the beginning. We had a lot of chances, so if we score a few [more] goals in the first half, I think the result would be different.

"But it's happened, so we need to stay positive and keep going."

Harvey Elliott won the penalty that was converted by Salah, securing a point that keeps the Reds off the top of the Premier League on goal difference only, and the young midfielder was keen to emphasise the fight that remains in the ranks of Klopp’s squad.

"It should have been all three [points]," the Reds’ No.19 said. "But I think at the same time we need to look at the game, and we were trailing.

"I think the boys showed unbelievable fight and courage to come back, to stay level-headed, stay in the game and get the equaliser.

"A point is better than nothing. We wanted the three points - there's no doubt about that - but a point is better than losing."

Elliott stressed the importance of keeping the focus inwards and not looking at what the likes of Arsenal FC and Manchester City FC are doing in one of the most exciting title races in years.

“We just need to be selfish with ourselves,” added Elliott, who only turned 21 last week.

“We can't be thinking about other teams and watching what they are doing and basing our games off them.

“We need to keep being selfish and keep getting three points on the board. We are in the best possible position to do it, we've got unbelievable fans behind us that will be backing us in each and every game until the end of the season.

“We have the team to do it, so who says we can't? We just need to keep going and keep taking it game by game, making sure we are recovered both physically and mentally and keep going. It will be a tough finish but we just need to keep going.”

Alexis Mac Allister, meanwhile, has been nominated for the PFA Premier League Fans’ Player of the Month for March.

The Argentinean midfielder has been in outstanding form for Liverpool FC in recent months, and scored one of the goals of the season in last Thursday’s 3-1 win over Sheffield United FC at Anfield.

In March, our No.10 scored a penalty against Manchester City FC and also set up crucial winners for Darwin Nunez against Nottingham Forest FC and Salah against Brighton and Hove Albion FC.

Mac Allister has been shortlisted alongside Declan Rice (Arsenal FC), Alexander Isak (Newcastle United FC), Rodri (Manchester City FC), Antoine Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth) and Cole Palmer (Chelsea FC).

Finally, Dominik Szoboszlai has been talking about the difference between playing in the Premier League and football on the continent.

The Hungarian midfielder joined from RB Leipzig last summer and has enjoyed an impressive first campaign on Merseyside, and he believes the energy of English football is what makes it one of the toughest leagues in world football.

“It’s a bit of, not quality, just energy in the game,” the 23-year-old told LiverpoolFC.com.

“Every team is good at something or has their days and then they can surprise the other teams. We have to be always ready. We can’t go out on the pitch and say it’s an easy game because it will never be an easy game. We have to be always ready to go for it.

"It doesn’t matter who we play against, we have to give 100 per cent.”

Szoboszlai also revealed how the hunger to lift trophies only increased within the squad when Klopp announced he was stepping down at the end of the campaign.

“Well, until January we didn’t even know it so until this time, we were like, ‘OK, we started well so let’s continue like this,’ added the club’s No.8.

“We continued like this: ‘Let’s have a great season.’ And then when he said he is going to leave after the season, it gave us an extra motivation that it’s his last season so let’s do something special.

“And then from every game by game we were giving our best and trying to do it for us but also for him.”