• Feature: A decade later, Atlético returns to Anfield: "I didn't know where to go"
  • Champions.The coronavirus does not exist in Liverpool
  • Adrián San Miguel.The gift of stopping penalties
  • Atlético.Actions to leave Anfield alive

Late Tuesday, after the safety meeting between UEFA and the Liverpool authorities, held in Anfield, it was confirmed that the match against Atletico would be open and the two fans could fill the renewed stands of the red stadium. The rumor had been very intense throughout the day, but the final decision, despite the threat of the coronavirus, was that the show continue. For anyone who had not yet traveled from Madrid, and decided not to do so, Atlético would return the price of their ticket.

Until that time, the only requirement to cross the gates of the enclosure (at least for journalists) was to complete a simple form about recent destinations and possible symptoms. A 'NO' was enough in the corresponding box. While in Paris or, last night in Valencia, the voices of the players rumbled in the corners of fields with no audience.

For Jurgen Klopp , the people of Anfield, it is vital to push Atlético to the precipice. In addition, he knows that the inexperience of the rival in such an imposing scenario can be a bullet. "Some Atlético players have not played in a stadium like Anfield and hopefully we can use the environment in our favor," the German coach said yesterday, with the uncertainty then latent about the set and the soundtrack of the game. If 'The Kop' and his parishioners don't recite the 'You'll never walk alone', Liverpool is a little less red.

Klopp is an expert in this type of psychological games because in Germany, always fighting against the tide against Bayern, he has had to use them. As in England, where he has run into Guardiola again , who, this time, will descend from the throne of the Premier. A milestone for Liverpool (not winning since 1990) and a milestone for the competition, since it is normal to become the earliest champion in history.

In the main access to Anfield by Walton Breck Road, the first thing one finds is the statue of Bill Shankly with his arms always pointing to the sky. "He made people happy," reads the marble foot that holds the imposing bronze figure. Also Klopp, only a few months ago, made his people happy, after reconquering Europe for the sixth time. And the same happened to Simeone , who again made Atlético feel important and touched the sky with the tips of his fingers twice.

The quad

"Telling how we are going to play? I think it is clear how we can play," admitted the Argentine coach, who has sustained much of his success on the famous quad. From 'Onda Cero', they assured that the plan was to place Giménez in the center of the field next to Thomas, Koke and Saúl. Maybe that was his rabbit from the top hat. But a setback in training, where he sprained his ankle, has been able to end an experiment he already tried, for example, in Leicester (2017), where the charrúa formed alongside Gabi, Koke and Saúl. The fourth leg of the spinal cord will probably be Marcos Llorente .

At least, Simeone and his boys will not have to face the Brazilian Alisson , injured again. For many, he is simply a great goalkeeper or one of the most expensive in the Premier. But for Atlético it is a kind of ogre, the germ of the first rojiblanco hit in the Champions League (17/18). On a steamy September night, in Rome, he stopped balls by land, sea and air. And Atlético, despite signing one of their best European matches, left with a 0-0 that ended up being decisive for their fall to the Europa League. The parapenaltis Adrián San Miguel will be the last

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