Lookman, Atalanta’s weapon in Thursday’s Europa League match against Liverpool says he learned a lot from Sadio Mane

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman will be one of Atalanta’s biggest threats in both games for Liverpool. Lookman is dangerous in front of goal and has a recent history of beating Liverpool at Anfield.

Back when he was playing for Leicester City, he even scored a winner against the Reds at Anfield a few years ago.

Since then, the former Everton attacker has become even better. This season he has 12 goal contributions in 24 matches in Serie A, and he will be looking to cause an upset at Anfield again.

Ahead of the match, Lookman has given an insightful interview to The Athletic, where he also revealed he has been studying Sadio Mane’s game to improve over the last few years.

“The guy who I always looked at the most would have to be Sadio Mane,” Lookman said.

“Looking at his threat in the box, his threat in those little tight spaces, his movement — I have watched a lot of his game in particular.”

Many will have taken this game as a formality. But the reality is Atalanta are a dangerous side, especially in counter-attacks.

They hurt Ruben Amorim’s side a lot in the last round of the Europa League and deservedly went through as winners.

They’ve also beaten Liverpool the last time they travelled to Anfield back during the 2020/21 season in the group stages of the Champions League.

Currently, sitting in sixth place in the Serie A, they will not be an easy side to beat.