Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has called for Anfield to claim yet another victim in its cauldron of noise when Atletico Madrid make the trip to the home of the European and world champions for the return leg of their Champions League last-16 clash.
MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 18: (L-R) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool FC, Renan Lodi of Atletico Madrid during the UEFA Champions League match between Atletico Madrid v Liverpool at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on February 18, 2020 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp’s troops are on the brink of seeing the defence of their European Cup scatter into existence following Diego Simeone’s managerial masterclass at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday night.
Saul Niguez got the vital early goal inside five minutes that forced the Argentine into deploying all 11 of his players behind the ball to allow a combination of the intense atmosphere their supporters created and the rigid and impermeable system that reduced Liverpool to not even a solitary effort on target.
However, despite Klopp’s first defeat since September, there maintains an aura of confidence amongst the players that Liverpool can indeed turn this around and that the power of Anfield can come to the fore once again.
MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 18: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool FC looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Atletico Madrid and Liverpool FC at Wanda Metropolitano on February 18, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Baldesca Samper/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
After all, we’ve been in this position before against Spanish opposition.
The second leg is due to take place on Wednesday, March 11 as Simeone and Klopp lock horns for only the second occasion in their professional managerial careers.
Liverpool could have the league mathematically wrapped up at that point with the English champions-elect currently leading the top-flight table by a gargantuan 22 points.
2017 and 2018 African Player of the Year Salah has sent out a resounding message on Instagram calling for supporters to get behind the players and overturn yet another European deficit similarly to when the Reds conquered Barcelona in the semi-final of the competition last season.
Speaking on Instagram, the Egypt international posted a rallying cry to the Liverpool faithful which read: “Anfield awaits…”
Klopp is still yet to lose a two-legged European tie since his appointment in 2015 and has won all 10 contests against his managerial counterparts.