It will have to be another one of those special European nights at Anfield. A very special night, really. Can they do it without The Kop, without that famous roar to inspire them, and suck the ball towards goal? Can they do it in an echoing empty arena, their opponents having passed this way so many times before?
These clubs share 19 Champions League and European Cup trophies, but that statistic flatters Liverpool a bit. More than two-thirds – 13 – belong to Madrid. Given a two goal first-leg lead, they have personnel who will not be fazed by circumstance.