“The crowd will be right with us, and it’ll be a special night – it always is, so it’s down to us to turn around a tough result”
Liverpool’s James Milner believes there will be another special European night at Anfield as they prepare to overturn their Champions League last-16 deficit against Atletico Madrid today. The European champions trail 1-0 from the first leg in Madrid.
It is a situation Liverpool have become accustomed to after they turned around a three-goal deficit against Barcelona at Anfield in the semi-finals last season before lifting their sixth title in Madrid.
Milner says their overwhelming support is key to such victories.
“The crowd will be right with us, and it’ll be a special night – it always is, so it’s down to us to turn around a tough result,” Milner said. “We know how good they (Atletico Madrid) are, we know how well organised they are but hopefully we can push them all the way and overturn that and have another special night at Anfield.”
Atletico have visited Anfield in the Champions League twice before and they have never won.
In the 2008/9 campaign they earned a 1-1 draw and in the following year, they lost 2-1, but both those results will be good enough to reach the next stage this time.
Also making a return to England will be former Tottenham Hotspur defender Kieran Trippier and he has told his Atletico teammates how tough Anfield is to visit.
“Anfield is probably one of the best stadiums there is with the atmosphere,” he said. “I’ve been speaking to the lads about what it will be like and they will try and make it as intimidating as possible. We know it’s going to be difficult but we have the mindset that we will qualify and we’re ready for the challenge.”
dpa
