Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid: Can ‘Reds bounce back’ under the Anfield lights?

Liverpool host Atletico Madrid in their Champions League round of 16 second leg tie on Wednesday night, where the Reds are aiming to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

Anfield will once again be under the lights as Jurgen Klopp’s men aim to make it another night to remember.

But they have it all to do against a stern Atletico side. The Spaniards picked up a 1-0 victory last month thanks to a Saul Niguez effort inside the first five minutes.

Liverpool simply couldn’t break down a rigid defence from Diego Simeone’s men. But they’ll need to find the back of the net at least once on Wednesday if they are to stand any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.

Since that evening at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, the Reds have certainly not been at their best. A narrow win at home to West Ham was followed by the club’s first league defeat this season, where Nigel Pearson’s Watford eased to a 3-0 victory at Vicarage Road.

Chelsea then inflicted further hurt when they knocked the club out of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge. Goals from Willian and Ross Barkley helped Frank Lampard’s side to a 2-0 win.

More misery looked imminent as an early Callum Wilson goal gave Bournemouth a 1-0 lead at Anfield on Saturday, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane soon rescuing the Reds.

They head into the game on Wednesday on the back of that much-needed 2-1 win, with Atletico visiting Merseyside after drawing 2-2 at home to Sevilla on Saturday.

Former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata netted from the spot, with teenage sensation Joao Felix scoring four minutes later. Both will be looking for similar success in Europe’s elite competition on Wednesday night.

It’s currently 8/15 for a home win, and 11/2 for an away victory. A draw can be backed at 11/4.

Liverpool are available at 11/10 to qualify, with Atletico currently 8/11.

It’s 12/1 for another 1-0 victory for the Spanish outfit, and 9/2 for another home 1-0 win.

A win for either side in extra-time is currently 17/2, with either team to win on penalties available at 11/1. 

A Liverpool victory and both teams to score is 11/4. And it’s 9/1 for Atletico to win and both teams to score.

Liverpool’s attacking wingers Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are available at 7/2 to score the first goal of the game. Their fellow forward Roberto Firmino is currently 11/2 to net first.

Morata is 8/1 to find the net first, with Felix and Diego Costa both available at 9/1.