The man who captained the Reds to a European Cup final triumph over los Merengues thinks that the passionate Anfield support could be the key factor tonight.
Liverpool legend Phil Thompson - a stalwart defender during his playing days who was the first man born in the city to lift the European Cup - believes that the Anfield crowd will need to be at its raucously loud best in order to spur the Reds onto victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
The Reds carry a 1-0 lead into the second leg of the Champions League knock-out phase tie, thanks to Yossi Benayoun's headed effort in the Bernabeu and Thompson, who has also worked as assistant manager at the club, thinks that the crowd is key.
"It is a flag day, the first time Madrid have come to Anfield and we need to show them just how special Anfield is on big occasions," he told The Liverpool Echo today.
"Real have been all over the world but will have never experienced anything like it."
Thompson was captain when Liverpool overcame Real 1-0 in the 1981 European Cup final, when an 82nd minute goal from Alan Kennedy saw the Mersey men become continental champions for the third time.
"Yes it was great and is all about the 1981 final for me," the 55-year-old added.
"To be the first Scouser to lift the European Cup for Liverpool was the most pleasing thing about it. Emlyn Hughes had lifted it in '77 and '78 and had become a Scouser but he was not born in the city.
"Just imagine my feelings of doing something like that. I stood on the Kop and supported the club which makes a huge difference and an incredible feeling and one that is hard to describe.
"I captained England and loved it but lifting the European Cup as captain of Liverpool was the greatest moment of my career."
And the former England defender also thinks that a strong team ethic is vital for today's Reds, as well as the right tactics from manager Rafa Benitez, if they are to prevail on Wednesday.
"It was a big win in Madrid two weeks ago and Liverpool were the better side. The success goes down to the whole team, I think in each area – defence, midfield and attack – everybody did their job. We looked motivated, organised and were better than them in all departments.
"These are two top teams playing against each other, big, big footballing nations and we showed them how much better the Premier League is.
"The win was all down to tactics, passion and the motivation of the players – everything was right on the night."
And the famously committed Liverpudlian concluded by asserting that there was no room for complacency either, stating, "I think we need the fans. We are in the ascendancy after getting the away goal, we are winning 1-0 but can't rest on our laurels.
"If we for one minute think this is in the bag, as players do sometimes and think the work is done, then we are in for a shock."
Liverpool legend Phil Thompson - a stalwart defender during his playing days who was the first man born in the city to lift the European Cup - believes that the Anfield crowd will need to be at its raucously loud best in order to spur the Reds onto victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
The Reds carry a 1-0 lead into the second leg of the Champions League knock-out phase tie, thanks to Yossi Benayoun's headed effort in the Bernabeu and Thompson, who has also worked as assistant manager at the club, thinks that the crowd is key.
"It is a flag day, the first time Madrid have come to Anfield and we need to show them just how special Anfield is on big occasions," he told The Liverpool Echo today.
"Real have been all over the world but will have never experienced anything like it."
Thompson was captain when Liverpool overcame Real 1-0 in the 1981 European Cup final, when an 82nd minute goal from Alan Kennedy saw the Mersey men become continental champions for the third time.
"Yes it was great and is all about the 1981 final for me," the 55-year-old added.
"To be the first Scouser to lift the European Cup for Liverpool was the most pleasing thing about it. Emlyn Hughes had lifted it in '77 and '78 and had become a Scouser but he was not born in the city.
"Just imagine my feelings of doing something like that. I stood on the Kop and supported the club which makes a huge difference and an incredible feeling and one that is hard to describe.
"I captained England and loved it but lifting the European Cup as captain of Liverpool was the greatest moment of my career."
And the former England defender also thinks that a strong team ethic is vital for today's Reds, as well as the right tactics from manager Rafa Benitez, if they are to prevail on Wednesday.
"It was a big win in Madrid two weeks ago and Liverpool were the better side. The success goes down to the whole team, I think in each area – defence, midfield and attack – everybody did their job. We looked motivated, organised and were better than them in all departments.
"These are two top teams playing against each other, big, big footballing nations and we showed them how much better the Premier League is.
"The win was all down to tactics, passion and the motivation of the players – everything was right on the night."
And the famously committed Liverpudlian concluded by asserting that there was no room for complacency either, stating, "I think we need the fans. We are in the ascendancy after getting the away goal, we are winning 1-0 but can't rest on our laurels.
"If we for one minute think this is in the bag, as players do sometimes and think the work is done, then we are in for a shock."
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