Saul Niguez admits he is in awe of Liverpool and their relentless run this season as his Atletico Madrid side prepare to face the Reds in the Champions League.
The Spaniards will host the first leg of the last 16 tie on Tuesday 10 years after eliminating the Reds from the Europa League.
Saul admits it is “incredible” to watch the Reds “press like animals”, which has led to a 25-point lead in the Premier League as they bid to land their first league title in 30 years.
“Liverpool are very complete, a great team in every area [but] they find it hardest when you’re deep because they’re very, very, very good in transition,” Saul told the Guardian.
“I watched them against Norwich and if it wasn’t for Mané’s extraordinary control, they don’t win. They’ve won lots of games they could have drawn or lost, which tells you something about what they have inside.
“It’s not luck. It’s work, sacrifice, not giving up a single ball for lost.”
The sides last faced each other in 2010 in the Europa League semi-finals.
Diego Forlan’s away goal at Anfield in extra-time sealed a 2-2 aggregate draw and their place in the final, where they would eventually beat Fulham.
Saul hopes to lean on Atleti’s new stadium, the Wanda Metropolitano, to “build the magic” to resemble the previously intimidating Vicente Calderon.
Discounting the domestic cup loss and draw to Aston Villa and Shrewsbury, where the Reds fielded a completely changed side, littered with youth team players, they enter the last 16 tie on a 17-game win streak.
The last team to stop Klopp’s actual first team was Napoli in November, with the Italians holding them to a 1-1 draw at Anfield, Tuesday will provide us with an answer as to how close they are to closing in on a historic treble.
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