Why Liverpool need to be extra careful against Atletico Madrid

Liverpool need to be extra careful in their round of 16 second leg game against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday at Anfield. This is why.

We know what Diego Simeone is going to bring to the table. His side will try exactly the same tactics to get under the skin of the Reds as they did back in Madrid and Liverpool need to try and retain their composure.

And that’s for a very good reason. Joe Gomez, Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson are all one yellow card away from picking up a suspension for the first leg of the quarter-final – and we know that Atletico will ride very close to the line with their behaviour.

Mane got booked in the first half of the first leg and had to be substituted off because Jurgen Klopp didn’t trust the Senegal international or the Madrid players not to goad him into any further rash behaviour.

We all know that Robbo loves a wind up and you can be sure he’ll be trying his best to out-Atletico, Atletico while the physical style Gomez brings to the side will run close to the line.

Whoever referees this outcome will have a big say in what happens. Big games like the Liverpool vs Atletico match will be charged and tempers will fly, especially with a lot on the line and Anfield cheering on the team.

But they can’t let themselves get too carried away with the atmosphere. The Reds need Gomez, Mane and Robertson in the team as the competition gets closer towards the conclusion and games get harder and harder to win.

Jordan Henderson has been missing with injury but hopefully Klopp decides he’s ready to be brought back into the first team, because we need him.

Hendo could bring the cool heads required for victory while nursing the lads through this without another yellow card.