James Milner is hoping that a combination of the Anfield crowd and Liverpool's dogged determination of finding a way to win even when they're not at their best can ensure the Reds overturn a first leg deficit against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Liverpool won the European Cup for the sixth time last June with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur but returning last month to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium where they lifted the trophy, they were beaten 1-0 by Diego Simeone's side in their last 16 first leg game in the Spanish capital.
The loss was the first of three in four games for Jurgen Klopp's side but having returned to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday with a 2-1 comeback victory over Bournemouth – thanks to a spectacular Milner clearance off the line – the Yorkshireman believes he and his team-mates are now in the right frame of mind.
Milner told Liverpoolfc.com : “I think obviously coming into that game off the back of a good result is pleasing, it gives us a good feeling.
“The crowd will be right with us, they were with us again today, and it'll be a special night – it always is, so it's down to us to turn around a tough result.
“We know how good they are, we know how well organised they are but hopefully we can push them all the way and overturn that and have another special night at Anfield.”
The 34-year-old was also pleased with how Liverpool bounced back following Callum Wilson's ninth minute opener to secure the win that left them just six points away from clinching their first League Championship in three decades and believes that such resoluteness could be a key factor against Atletico.
Milner said: “No team goes through a season without having a couple of performances which aren't at the level.
“It happens, it's a long season and you see how many games we've played, and any sport you play it's impossible to be at your highest level all year, year in and year out.
“You try your best and it just doesn't happen, and that's when you need to find a way to win. We've done that but we need to get back to the level that we know we can perform at.
“But the boys are working hard, you can see that it's not through a lack of effort and the two finishes (against Bournemouth) were clinical from the lads up front.
“We could have closed it out as well but they had chances as well, so there's plenty to look at on what we can improve on.”
