Liverpool have discovered their potential route to the Europa League final.
Friday’s draw saw Jurgen Klopp’s side paired with Atalanta at the quarter final stage of the competition as well as their prospective semi-final opponents.
The Reds previously faced off against their Serie A counterparts in the 2020/21 Champions League group stage, winning a game apiece.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s men bested their hosts at Anfield in a shock two-goal victory three weeks after Liverpool had ran out 5-0 winners in Bergamo.
Atalanta will travel to Merseyside for the opening leg of their tie on Thursday, April 11 before welcoming Klopp’s charges to Italy just seven days later.
Asked for his thoughts on the draw, the Liverpool manager said: “Tricky. Atalanta, we played there [previously].
“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.
“It’s 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.”
Should they overcome La Dea in next month’s two-legged affair, the Carabao Cup holders will face the winner of Benfica and Marseille in the semi-finals.
The draw’s order means Liverpool have home advantage in the second leg, as they did when they reached the final at the end of Klopp’s first season.