EXPECT Atletico Madrid to be taken to the cleaners in dramatic style by Steven Gerrard this evening. Well, that’s if Liverpool’s laundry man is to be believed.
Anfield anticipates another famous European night when Rafael Benitez’s side aim to salvage a tortuous campaign with a place in the Europa League final this evening.
Certainly, the omens point in their favour. Striving to reach a 12th European showpiece, Liverpool overcame Spanish opponents – Barcelona on both occasions – in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1976 and 2001 before going on to win the trophy.
On the three previous occasions they have lost the first leg away at this stage in Europe, as they did at the Vicente Calderon last Thursday, the Anfield outfit fought back on home soil to reach the final.
And Graham McKinley, who tends to the club’s laundry, is convinced Atletico will be put into a spin in trademark fashion this evening.
“When I was on my way here to the stadium, the laundry man told me it would be like Olympiakos all over again; with a great atmosphere and a late goal to win it at the end,” says Benitez.
“He is convinced it will be like this and I told him that, if there was a guarantee it would be like this and we will win 3-1, I will take that right now. I will be really pleased for Stevie if he can inspire the team like this once again.”
With Fernando Torres out for the season and Liverpool struggling to field a fully-fit senior striker, much of the onus will fall on Gerrard once again this evening.
The skipper demonstrated a return to form by scoring twice in the 4-0 win at Burnley on Sunday, the second goal a spectacular first-time curling shot from 25 yards.
And Benitez says: “It was a great performance for us and for him. I think he needed to do well, and to score the second goal in that way will be very important for him and for the team.
“He is a leader on the pitch and the rest of the players follow him 100%. The rest of the team wait for something special from Stevie at times and everyone will be pushing with him against Atletico.
“We have some players here now who don’t know what it means to win a trophy of this value. The players with experience will be pushing them against Atletico, they will have to be leaders and be really positive.”
For Ryan Babel, Gerrard’s wondrous strike at Turf Moor shows how the skipper can lead by example.
“It is clear that he can do that kind of thing, he has shown it for years, so it was not a surprise to see him score like that,” says Babel. “I was pleased for him, it gave him some confidence and we will definitely need all of that for this game.
“As a captain, it is more how he does on the pitch, he is a quiet person in himself, a good personality, so he doesn’t have to say much, but players understand what it’s about. If you have that, you’re an important player.”
Diego Forlan’s scruffy ninth-minute goal ensured Atletico will defend a slender advantage at Anfield this evening.
However, the reaction from the home fans at the Vicente Calderon, many of whom remained in the ground until long after the final whistle to celebrate the victory, was as though their team had already reached the final in Hamburg on May 12.
It did not go unnoticed. “Maybe they were a bit premature, maybe they were thinking they were already in the final, I don’t know,” says Babel.
“Atleti has had a hard season so that was something to cheer for the fans, a relief, to win the first game.”
Tonight will be Atletico’s third visit to Anfield in 18 months, with the Spaniards having drawn 1-1 in a Champions League group stage clash before winning a pre-season friendly last summer. But Benitez has warned the atmosphere this evening – famously described by Jose Mourinho in 2005 as “the power of Anfield” – will far surpass either of those occasions.
