Livorno vs Hellas Verona preview - Mandorlini targets three points

Hellas Verona head coach Andrea Mandorlini is confident his team can bounce back from last weekend's poor display against Torino when they take on Livorno at the Stadio Armando Picchi.

Mandorlini's men conceded three second-half goals to lose 3-1 at home - their fourth defeat in Verona this season.

The outcome dropped Hellas to eighth place, where they are level on 36 points with both Parma and Torino.

"We must put this defeat behind us," Mandorlini said. "It was simply not our night and we have to accept the result and move on.

"My players are determined to do well at Livorno and we will go there ready to bring home three points."

A win on Sunday would be a huge step forward for Hellas, who gained promotion to Italy's top flight last summer.

Clubs hoping to avoid the drop usually target the 40-point mark when talking about survival.

"We know we are very close to achieve our aim and a win at Livorno would be a giant step towards that," Mandorlini said.

Hellas can expect a battle at the Picchi.

Livorno climbed out of the Serie A relegation zone following last weekend's 2-1 victory at Cagliari.

The Tuscan outfit are 17th in the standings, one point and one place clear of danger.

"The win in Cagliari was really important for us," Livorno coach Domenico Di Carlo said. "We must give continuity to this result.

"The road is long but we are on the right path to defending our Serie A status."

The hosts suffered a blow last weekend when losing captain Andrea Luci for the rest of the season to an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee.

Luci underwent surgery this week and will be sidelined for at least five months.

Livorno will also be without defender Federico Ceccherini and midfielder Marco Benassi, who are both suspended.

Hellas will be without midfielder Emil Hallfredsson, who must serve a one-match ban.