Liverpool’s senior players suffered only their second defeat of the season last night as Atletico Madrid took advantage of their Champions League last-16 tie following a 1-0 victory at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 19: Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool and Alvaro Morata of Atletico de Madrid in action during the UEFA Champions League football match, round 16, played between Atletico de Madrid and Liverpool FC at Wanda Metropolitano stadium on February 19, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
However, despite the setback to Diego Simeone’s team, Liverpool should not be disconsolate, we’ve been here before Anfield has seen the better of more formidable opponents.
Once again, Klopp’s European champions will head back to their famous old stadium, against Spanish opposition, looking to turn around a deficit and keep their Champions League dreams alive.
The 12th man it is referred to – and in three weeks time more than ever it will be required.
Atletico showcased the effect their home fortress had on their team inspiring a heroic victory but European football knows no other ground like Anfield and it will be a scorcher of a match to say the least.
The home of the English champions-elect is a force of nature on European knockout nights and it is hard to quantify how much of an advantage it could hand Klopp’s ‘mentality monsters’.
One Liverpool star who is already chomping at the bit to fast forward to March 11 is back up goalkeeper Adrian who has posted on Twitter struggling to contain his excitement.
Now more than ever ANFIELD IS WAITING 💪🏻🔴#ADR13N pic.twitter.com/KMXg7cDPRY
— Adrián San Miguel (@AdriSanMiguel) February 18, 2020
Adrian knows a thing or two about European heroics following his match-winning performance against Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup victory earlier in the season and it is easy to forget this will be his first time sampling a European knockout tie at Liverpool.
He is certainly expecting another special Anfield occasion to go down long in the memory of club folklore.