Liverpool have almost wrapped up their first league title in three decades , and now the task turns to emerging from their Champions League tie with Atletico Madrid and entering the draw for the quarter-final on Friday, March
Having been beaten 1 -0 in the Wanda Metropolitano , the tie is perfectly balanced for the neutral, though the Reds know one goal conceded on the night means they will need three.
Alvaro Morata is a potential doubt ahead of the game having sustained a thigh injury during Atletico’s 2-2 draw with Sevilla over the weekend, in which he ended a – minute goal drought.
Despite that lack of goals, Morata, the ex-Chelsea man, is Atletico’s top scorer so far this season with goals in appearances in all competitions.
And that injury setback means it is likely to be Diego Costa lining up as Atletico’s number nine, a man Liverpool fans know well.
Costa, the ex-Chelsea forward,
who almost signed for the Reds in , is almost certain to have a big influence on the match in one way or another.
As Ian Doyle outlined on the latest Blood Red podcast : “It’s an interesting one with Diego Costa, because it could work one of two ways.
” Him being Costa could wind up the crowd, as the referee did on Saturday, and that gives Liverpool a boost.
“Or, he could be that annoying that he has a big impact on the way that Liverpool defend and suddenly Liverpool step back a little bit because they are concerned he might do something.”
Jordan Henderson and Costa, of course , have previous, having famously clashed at Anfield in the past when the Spaniard was wearing the blue shirt of Chelsea.
The Liverpool captain is now back in full training and is expected to feature at Anfield, potentially from the start.
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