Alisson pinpoints two areas Liverpool must improve to turn around dip in form ahead of Atalanta

Liverpool must deliver another incredible European comeback as it takes on Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-final on Thursday night. The Reds trail 3-0 from the first leg at Anfield and travel to Italy on the back of a defeat in the Premier League.

That 1-0 home loss to Crystal Palace dented Liverpool's title hopes, with Jürgen Klopp's side now two points adrift of Manchester City at the top of the table. The title push will continue at Fulham on Sunday but first, Liverpool will try to overturn that first-leg deficit.

Ahead of the match, goalkeeper Alisson has identified two key areas that the Reds need to improve on following the recent dip in form, in order to end the season with more silverware.

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He said in a press conference: "[We have had] two bad results, [but] I think we cannot make the mistake to make these bigger than it is. Of course losing 3-0 at home is something that we cannot accept as Liverpool players.

"We have to improve our performances, of course, but if I would be more precise on the things we have to do better, it is we have to go back to keeping clean sheets and try to score the chances that we have, the clear chances that we have in front of the goal.

"I am saying that because I trust my strikers a lot, I trust my defenders a lot and I know the quality that we have as a team. So if we do that as a team, defend as a team, attack as a team, improving these kind of things then I think we can go back to winning games."

Alisson also acknowledged the challenge Atalanta will pose, stating Liverpool simply must improve on the first-leg performance. "Atalanta will be a tough nut to crack," he added.

"It is a very physical side, both physically and tactically and technically. It has always been a very tough match to come up against them. They play 11 against 11, man-marking all over the pitch and when you play against a team that do man-mark all over the pitch, you need to make sure that you are willing to put in hard work and run.

"If you don't do that, it's pointless even going out there to play in the first place! They did an outstanding job in the last game, you could see that they prepared the game very well with regards to knowledge of us as a team."

"We also produced a bad performance. I think this match could be a different kettle of fish but we need to do a much better job than we did in the first leg."

Liverpool.com says: Alisson has hit the nail on the head and it might seem simple, but that is where Liverpool have been going wrong in recent weeks. It has been a remarkable campaign but he defensive solidity has gone of late and against Palace in particular, the finishing was not good enough. Liverpool is creating chances and if it does so again in Italy, there is hope of a comeback — as long as things are tight at the other end of the pitch.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Daily Mirror by clicking here.