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Liverpool lean on the legend of Anfield to overturn Atletico Madrid deficit – but this time it’s different

Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum looks dejected after defeat in Madrid: Reuters
Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum looks dejected after defeat in Madrid: Reuters

After their first defeat of any real significance for five months, the reigning champions of Europe can at least take solace from recent history. Liverpool are no strangers to disappointing performances away from home in this competition. They lost all three of their group stage away games on their way to winning last season’s Champions League. Napoli were one of their conquerors then and they beat them again back in September. And, of course, there is the 3-0 defeat at Camp Nou to consider.

That will be the parallel that many draw on when Atletico Madrid arrive on Merseyside defending a hard-earned one-goal lead next month, hopeful of reaching this year’s quarter-finals but also wary of what could happen. The legend of Anfield can be exaggerated sometimes. It is easily mocked and parodied. It even lost some of its potency at the start of the last decade. Yet over the past few years, the myth has felt more like a reality, and never more so than with that beating of Barcelona.

From the very first minute of that night last May, specifically the moment when Andy Robertson impertinently shoved Lionel Messi in the back of the head, something was brewing. There was the outright hostility rather than sentimentality for Luis Suarez, for example. Fabinho took particular joy in clattering the Uruguayan, but at least Suarez merely ended the evening bruised rather than broken. One of that evening’s often forgotten images was the shell of Philippe Coutinho being substituted on the hour mark.

And as well as an air of intimidation, there was a creeping sense of inevitability too. It began with Divock Origi’s early opening goal and it was growing, rather than receding, during that long wait for Gini Wijnaldum’s double. Most remarkably of all, it continued still after the scores were levelled, ultimately culminating in that quick corner routine. At 4-0, not only a complete turnaround but total victory too, to the point where, when playing football together, Messi’s young son now tells his dad: “I’m Liverpool, you’re Barcelona.”

That night has contributed more than any other to the sense that, under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool are never more dangerous than when they have a mountain to climb. How else to explain their near-perfect reaction to a 97-point season that was only good enough for second place? Such steel is also visible in the numerous narrow victories – draws transformed into wins – which have powered their Premier League title bid this season. You could see it, too, in their series of late winning goals during the autumn in games that had appeared all but settled.

But conversely, Atletico are never more dangerous than when they have the higher ground and that is exactly where they find themselves after Tuesday’s first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano. It was a tight game, yes, but one which was played entirely on Atletico’s terms because of Saul Niguez’s fourth-minute opener. Succumbing to that opening spell of Atletico pressure and surrendering parity so early on could end up being Liverpool’s only mistake across the 180 minutes and more of this tie, and yet it could still prove decisive.

From Saul’s goal onwards, the game was quintessential Diego Simeone: shape, structure and strength in unity. Liverpool had no convincing answers to the questions posed by Atletico’s low block and defensive organisation. Klopp’s players may have dominated possession, finishing with nearly a three-quarter share of the ball, but they managed no shots on target. A handful of half-chances inside the 18-yard-box made up the best of their efforts on Jan Oblak’s goal, while Atletico’s incisive counter-attacking would have put them clearly ahead on another night.

Klopp screams from the touchline in Madrid (Getty)
Klopp screams from the touchline in Madrid (Getty)

Still, Simeone was delighted. “There are nights that are not forgotten and this is one of them,” he said. “The best team in the world came here, a team that doesn’t lose any games, and we beat them.” Another 90 minutes like that in the second leg and he knows they will reach the last eight. He will know, too, that Anfield presents its own challenges. He claimed not to be thinking about that game yet on Tuesday night but he must already be considering it and must also be confident of not falling into familiar traps.

It is, after all, difficult to see Diego Costa reacting with Messi’s mild annoyance if Robertson shoves him in the head early doors. Saul, Koke and Thomas Partey – all very good on Tuesday night – have studied Liverpool’s pressing closely and are unlikely to be cowed in the same way as Barça’s band of midfield 30-somethings.

Simeone protests on the touchline against Liverpool (AFP)
Simeone protests on the touchline against Liverpool (AFP)

And the air of resignation which seemed to sweep through Ernesto Valverde’s side as the darkest night of their careers dragged on will surely not be seen at Anfield this time. It is simply anathema to Simeone and Atletico.

This was never likely to be the most entertaining tie of the exciting last-16 draw but it may be the best match between two contrasting but complementary styles. Liverpool are more than capable of a comeback. The last two years of results under Klopp prove that much and they will draw inspiration from that semi-final last May, but that is likely to be where the comparisons end. If this first leg proved anything, it was that a Simeone Atletico will not be so easily, thoroughly and completely broken.

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