Jordan Henderson has warned there is "no room for sentiment" when Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez return to Anfield on Tuesday night.
The Liverpool captain needs to rouse his side to a win by at least three goals against FC Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Barca were held in check by an impressive Liverpool performance at the Nou Camp until two goals from Lionel Messi changed the complexion of the tie.
The Reds now need a historic comeback to turn things around, and while much of the pre-match attention has been on a pair of returning old boys, Henderson wrote in the club's matchday programme that there will be no special treatment.
“There’s no room for sentiment in football and particularly in contests that mean as much as this one, but it will be great to see Luis Suarez and Phil Coutinho back at Anfield," he said.
"I have no idea if either will start the game or not, but they’ll be with our visitors and I’m sure for them the emotion of coming back here will be strong, especially as it’s the first time both of them will have played here against Liverpool since leaving the club.
“Luis and Phil are friends as well as ex-teammates. Personally speaking, I learned a lot from both when I was lucky enough to share a dressing room with them. Clearly both are very different personalities on the pitch, but both are winners and two of the best footballers on the planet."
Coutinho struggled in the first leg to the extent that he was jeered by Barca fans when he was eventually substituted.
Lionel Messi leapt to the defence of the out-of-form Brazilian playmaker.
“This is something we have to achieve together and it is not the moment to criticise anybody.
“It is ugly to see [the crowd] treat a team-mate like that.”
