Sadio Mane will be licking his lips at worrying Atalanta trait

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Sadio Mane will fancy his chances against Atalanta tonight. The winger might not play but if he does, he’s the one to watch at Anfield.

Liverpool as a whole will expect to beat Atalanta tonight. They tore them to shreds in Bergamo, after all, winning 5-0 with a fantastic performance.

Tonight could be different, though. We expect Jurgen Klopp to rest players, given the quick turnaround to the Brighton game at Saturday lunchtime.

But no matter who plays, the Reds will be big favourites over their opponents. That means everyone will probably want to feature – but Sadio Mane, in particular, will hope to start against Atalanta.

Weakness

There really isn’t too big a difference between Atalanta playing at home and when they play away. But there are so key weaknesses for Liverpool to watch.

One stands out above all – they concede an alarming number of shots down their left flank away from home.

This is a team that struggles to keep clean-sheets regardless of where they’re playing (just two this season). It means that Liverpool will have chances no matter what.

But for whatever reason, their left flank is the best area to attack. Atalanta concede just seven per cent of their shots down the left at home. That leaps all the way to 27 per cent when away. [All stats per Whoscored]

So, in short, whoever plays down Liverpool’s left should be in for a treat. And if that player is Mane, then Atalanta have a lot to fear.

As we say, Klopp might rest players and that includes Mane. Divock Origi could very well line up from the left.

But Mane, being the £34m superstar that he is, could be in line to tear Atalanta apart on his own. That will tempt Klopp, certainly, who could potentially rest both Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota to put his faith in Mane.

It could be a simple way to guarantee a devastating attacking tonight.