Liverpool defender Joel Matip is looking for another clean sheet against Atalanta tonight as the Reds hunt a win to advance to the Champions League knockout stages.
After beating their Group D rivals 5-0 in Bergamo at the start of the month, Matip and his pool leaders are looking to repeat the trick at Anfield and continue their perfect run in Europe.
And while Matip spent that match on the bench, the German centreback is keen to marshal a backline that has not conceded in their continental campaign and just four times in the seven games since superstar Virgil van Dijk’s October 17 injury.
Set to play alongside fit-again Fabinho against Atalanta, Matip says: “[Atalanta’s] attacking qualities are a threat to every team in Europe and we have to be prepared for a really tough game.
“We can’t compare it to the game in Italy, it’s a new game where we have to be good from the first second or else it will be a tough night.”
In a boost for the team, Klopp confirmed that Mo Salah is back in training after recovering from Covid-19, but didn’t confirm if the Egyptian striker will return to action tonight.
Having seen Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota net in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Premier League leaders Leicester without Salah, Klopp says: “The [latest Covid] test was negative, he is available. Now we have to see what we do with that because he was quarantined until three days ago.”
TonightO’s fixtures
Borussia M’gladbach v Shakhtar Donetsk, Olympiacos v Man City (both 7.55pm), Ajax v Midtjylland, Inter Milan v Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid v Lokomotiv Moscow, Bayern Munich v Salzburg, Marseille v Porto (all 10pm).