Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says Atalanta are capable of beating Liverpool tonight.

La Dea are at Anfield for the first-leg of their Europa League quarterfinal.

Benitez told Sky Italia: "It will be a high-intensity match. I saw Atalanta's matches against Milan and Fiorentina and I must say that the Nerazzurri struggle when the other team presses from the start.

"I believe it will be like thi, especially at the beginning, but then Liverpool could leave some space and Gasperini's team will have to try to exploit them. It won't be easy.

"It's tough, but Atalanta can do it. In some matches, like in Naples, the team did very well. Liverpool are very strong, it will also depend on who plays. However, the Nerazzurri have a lot of motivation and will want to try to get to the end of the competition."