Next Thursday will have to be another one of those special nights at Anfield. After their disappointing result against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final, the Reds have it all to do in the return. It's not so much the score that is so daunting. After all, Liverpool lost their first leg in France to Lille, and lost at Benfica 2-1 and on both occassions overcame their opponents.
But there is a difference. For a start, there is no Fernando Torres to spearhead the attack as he did against the French side when he scored two goals. Secondly, neither Lille nor Benfica possess the qualities in attack that Atletico have. Sergio 'Kun' Aguero, who was suspended for Thursday's first leg, will be back, and his partnership up front with Diego Forlan is always lethal. With Simao and Reyes on the flanks and Jurado prodding just behind the attack, it's impossible to imagine Atletico not scoring at Anfield.
The real worry for Liverpool is that in the last three rounds Atletico have done it the hard way too, but exactly in reverse to the English side. Against Frank Rijkaard's Galatasaray they drew at home 1-1, only to score a shock injury time winner in Turkey to win the game 2-1. Then they dulled the senses in a drab goalless draw at home to Sporting Lisbon only to produce a sparkling 2-2 result in Portugal. And in the quarter-finals they again scored twice away from home in a 2-2 draw at Valencia which helped them through. It's exactly these performances and results away from home that make Atletico strong favourites to reach the final in Hamburg next month.
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina accepts the complexity of the tie, but believes that Anfield is always a special ground for teams to play at.
"We believe that we can do it, but I know it will be difficult. But at Anfield it will be easier for us and I hope our supporters will push the team right from the beginning."
Of that there is little doubt, but Reina lamented the manner of the goal that the team conceded. A comedy of misfortunes and errors that allowed Diego Forlan to bundle the ball over the line.
"To be honest, I think their goal was a bit lucky and it was really difficult for us to accept. But that's the way it was, and if you look at it, they didn't really create that many chances, but they were the ones who scored a goal so it has become massive for them now," said the keeper.
Atletico may have not created plenty, but the media in Spain has been highly critical of the way Liverpool played, describing their football as being "disappointing" and ultimately ugly. The confidence in the Spanish capital is high regarding Atletico's chances of winning through. Reina accepts that the way the Spaniards play means they will be dangerous opponents in the return.
"It's going to be interesting but it's difficult to play them. They play very well on the counter-attack so that is going to be a problem, but this is now at Anfield and we know what Anfield can do, so let's just have belief."
But there is a difference. For a start, there is no Fernando Torres to spearhead the attack as he did against the French side when he scored two goals. Secondly, neither Lille nor Benfica possess the qualities in attack that Atletico have. Sergio 'Kun' Aguero, who was suspended for Thursday's first leg, will be back, and his partnership up front with Diego Forlan is always lethal. With Simao and Reyes on the flanks and Jurado prodding just behind the attack, it's impossible to imagine Atletico not scoring at Anfield.
The real worry for Liverpool is that in the last three rounds Atletico have done it the hard way too, but exactly in reverse to the English side. Against Frank Rijkaard's Galatasaray they drew at home 1-1, only to score a shock injury time winner in Turkey to win the game 2-1. Then they dulled the senses in a drab goalless draw at home to Sporting Lisbon only to produce a sparkling 2-2 result in Portugal. And in the quarter-finals they again scored twice away from home in a 2-2 draw at Valencia which helped them through. It's exactly these performances and results away from home that make Atletico strong favourites to reach the final in Hamburg next month.
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina accepts the complexity of the tie, but believes that Anfield is always a special ground for teams to play at.
"We believe that we can do it, but I know it will be difficult. But at Anfield it will be easier for us and I hope our supporters will push the team right from the beginning."
Of that there is little doubt, but Reina lamented the manner of the goal that the team conceded. A comedy of misfortunes and errors that allowed Diego Forlan to bundle the ball over the line.
"To be honest, I think their goal was a bit lucky and it was really difficult for us to accept. But that's the way it was, and if you look at it, they didn't really create that many chances, but they were the ones who scored a goal so it has become massive for them now," said the keeper.
Atletico may have not created plenty, but the media in Spain has been highly critical of the way Liverpool played, describing their football as being "disappointing" and ultimately ugly. The confidence in the Spanish capital is high regarding Atletico's chances of winning through. Reina accepts that the way the Spaniards play means they will be dangerous opponents in the return.
"It's going to be interesting but it's difficult to play them. They play very well on the counter-attack so that is going to be a problem, but this is now at Anfield and we know what Anfield can do, so let's just have belief."
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