Alisson Becker names what Liverpool must start doing again and makes injury admission

Alisson Becker admits Liverpool will have no chance of ensuring a glorious finale for Jurgen Klopp this season unless they regain their mean streak - as he revealed his difficulties during a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Alisson is expected to make only his second Europa League appearance of the season when the Reds aim to pull off a remarkable comeback in their quarter-final second leg here in Bergamo having lost 3-0 at home against Atalanta last week.

Klopp's side have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine games and go into the match at the Gewiss Stadium following back-to-back defeats after their Premier League title challenge suffered a major setback with a 1-0 reverse to Crystal Palace at Anfield last Sunday.

But Alisson admits Liverpool cannot afford to be too downhearted by the recent blip in form while urging better defending as a team. "Two bad results," he said. "We cannot make the mistake of making it bigger than it is. Of course, losing 3-0 at home is something we can't accept as LFC players. We have to improve our performances but if I was being more precise the things we have to do better are we have to go back to keeping clean sheets and scoring the chances we have, the clear chances we have in front of goal.

"I'm saying that because I trust a lot my strikers and defenders and I know the quality we have as a team. If we attack and defend as a team then we can go back to winning games."

Of clean sheets, Alisson added: "We start from that. This has to be our goal for the rest of the season, next season and seasons to come. Keeping clean sheets is the basis for a successful team, we did that in the past and the trophies we won we were solid defensive-wise.

"That's not only depending on the defenders but the whole team, we have to defend together and fight to get the ball back, close gaps, win challenges, block shots, stopping crosses, making difficult saves, we have to do that as a team, go back to get the clean sheets. That's the basis for us, not only for tomorrow but for the rest."

Alisson was part of the Liverpool team that produced the greatest fightback in the club's history when they overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit to beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield and clinch a place in the Champions League final five years ago.

But the goalkeeper has dismissed comparisons between that task and the one now facing Klopp's side. "Not so many I don't think apart from the result," he said. "We are playing the second leg away, that game was second leg at home. Different players. Different competition. There are more differences than similarities. It's a completely different situation and we have to deal with it differently as well.

"We did in the past great things, great achievements. You can see in the history of football that teams have overcome bad results and turned around and qualified for the next stage in European competitions like that.

"Of course, we have to believe in ourselves but in my opinion it's a really difficult situation, the way the opponent played at our home showed their quality and how tough the game will be tomorrow. We come here with a goal to improve our performance in respect to the last game and try to play better as a team, which we didn't do in the last match. We have to try to avoid some mistakes and try to do better the things we have to do better. Then we will see the result of that."

Alisson made his first appearance in more than two months at the weekend having followed a brief bout of illness with a serious hamstring injury. And reflecting on his time on the sidelines, the Brazil international said: "It was really hard for me. I am a guy that when I am at home, injured or just resting, I don't like to watch football as I get too excited and want to play.

"I want to be part of every game but I know it wasn't possible for me. I tried to make my best in the recovery and spent a lot of time on the bed having treatment and a lot of time in the gym to be strong when I came back, to be in a good shape and maybe better than I was before. That's how I feel.

"It was eight weeks doing double sessions, every day sometimes three sessions, it was really hard for me. Seeing the team fighting for titles, I have a lot of desire to be part of that fight. Thank God I am here and looking forward to the rest of the season."

Alisson had encountered Atalanta regularly during his time at former club Roma, and said: "I did expect Atalanta to be like that. Ever since I moved to Italy right up until now Atalanta have always been a tough nut to crack. They are a very physical side, they play 11 v 11 man-marking all over the pitch and when you play against a team who do that you need to make sure you are willing to work hard and run. If you don't do that it is pointless even going out to play in the first place.

"They did an outstanding job in the last game, you could see they prepared very well and in regards to us we also produced a bad performance."