Luka Modric admits he will miss playing in front of a packed Anfield - but has dismissed a slight from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp over Real Madrid's temporary home.
Supporters will again be locked out on Wednesday when the Reds aim to complete an unlikely comeback having lost 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Spain last week.
Modric, now 35, was part of the Real side that won 3-0 at Liverpool in the Champions League in 2014 and also visited four times when with Tottenham Hotspur.
And he said: "To be honest I would prefer to play at Anfield with the crowd because of the atmosphere here. I played a few times with Tottenham, we played that game with Real and the atmosphere was amazing.
"Everyone wants to play with crowd. We just have to do the best we can in the situation we are in.
"I imagine it will be a very demanding game. We will have to perform really, really well and do pretty much what we did in the first leg. We're here to win the game, not just sit back and keep the result."
Klopp stated after the first leg he was looking forward to playing in a "proper stadium" in the return with Real based at their training complex this season due to construction work at the Bernabeu.
Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman and defender Gerard Pique were similarly dismissive of the tiny Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium after the Catalans lost there 2-1 at the weekend.
But Modric hit back at the comments, and said: "No, it doesn't leave a stain. Nothing people say from outside can put a negative slant on games we win.
"When you are the best team in the world, it's normal you get criticism from other quarters.
"What people say outside the club cannot stain our image."
Similar to Liverpool, Real are missing a number of key players with right-back Lucas Vazquez, who featured in the first leg, joining centre-backs Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane on the sidelines.
And Modric added: "It's a shame as he was in top form and helped the teams loads. His injury will have a negative effect on us.
"These sort of adversities unite us even more, we know we need all our players who are fit and ready.
"We are suffering from a lot of injuries but they are part and parcel of football. It's really tough when you have so many out injured.
"But we feel physically good. We are still involved in La Liga and Champions League so we can't complain about being tired. It's not easy but you just have to keep going."
