Champions League Team news and prediction: Atalanta vs Liverpool

In what may prove to be a goal fest in Italy, Atalanta host Liverpool tonight in a game that is expected to be one of the more entertaining group stages clashes. 

Atalanta are the great entertainers in Serie A with 30 goals scored in their six league matches this season, an average of five goals per game in Italy's top tier. Liverpool, meanwhile, have seen 32 goals scored in their seven league games at a rate of 4.57 goals per game. This promises to be a classic in Italy! 

In the build up to tonight's meeting between the two, we have all your need-to-know match information, including team news, probable XIs and where you can catch this mouthwatering contest on television. 

When is kick off? 

Tuesday 3rd November, 20:00 GMT 

Where is the match? 

Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo 

Where can I watch it? 

BT Sport 2 

Group Stage So Far 

Atalanta kicked off their group stage campaign with a comfortable 4-0 win over Danish side FC Midtjylland as the Serie A side set out their intentions early on. They followed up that comfortable win with a 2-2 home draw with Dutch side Ajax, as a second half Duvan Zapata brace saw them come from behind to rescue a point on home turf. 

Liverpool sit two points and one place above Atalanta at the top of Group D having won their two games so far. A Nicolas Tagliafico own goal saw the Reds return to Liverpool with all three points before returning to Anfield to secure a 2-0 win over FC Midtjylland courtesy of goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah. 

Team News 

Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini has a number of injury concerns at the back. Mattia Caldara, Robin Gosens and Cristiano Piccini all miss the welcome of Liverpool, while midfield shield Marten de Roon is also ruled out. Johan Mojica is expected to deputise for the sidelined Gosens at left wing-back. Gasperini is also sweating on the fitness of right wing-back Hans Hateboer and centre-backs Rafael Toloi and Cristian Romero, all three of whom would usually start, but the Italian has no concerns over his attackers. 

Nathaniel Phillips, who made his Premier League debut against West Ham at the weekend, wasn't registered for Liverpool's Champions League squad and misses out, but Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Joel Matip has returned to full training. With Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho ruled out, Matip's availability is a boost for the Reds. Thiago and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain miss the trip to Atalanta, while Naby Keita and Kostas Tsimikas will be assessed. 

Probable XIs 

Atalanta (3421) - Sportiello; Toloi, Romero, Palomino; Hateboer, Pasalic, Freuler, Mojica; Malinovskiy, Gomez; Zapata

Liverpool (4231) - Aisson; Alexander-Arnold, Williams, Gomez, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mane, Shaqiri, Jota; Salah

Key Battle - Duvan Zapata vs Mohamed Salah

Of the eight goals Duvan Zapata has had a direct hand in this season, four have come in the Champions League. The Colombian scored one and assisted another in the win at FC Midtjylland before netting a brace against Ajax and it means that only Marcus Rashford (4) has scored more Champions League goals than Zupata (3) this season.

Mohamed Salah got off the mark late on against FC Midtjylland last time out having come off the bench to hit the back of the net from the spot. He'll have ample opportunities to add to his one Champions Legaue goal in Italy tonight as he looks to successfully transfer his domestic form to European competition.

Prediction: Atalanta 1-2 Liverpool