Gerard Brand

This was very entertaining.

Liverpool got into really dangerous areas.

A lot of the time it wasn't just sort of side to side on the edge of the final third, but their final ball or their final effort was missing.

I'm not sure either if this is really a case of this is how to beat Liverpool because I've watched Liverpool a lot this season I mean we all have and plenty of teams have actually done this it's just that Liverpool have always found a way I actually think Liverpool will be encouraged you can see it in their reaction post-match

They all said they're going to be really up for this and they're saying wait until Atletico get to Anfield.

This is a proper European away tie.

The atmosphere was boiling hot and I think it's going to be the same for Atletico and Anfield.

Klopp was already thinking ahead at half time.

He brought Sadio Mane off, he was on a yellow card.

For a start it gives him slightly more time to rest, he's had an injury recently.

Plus he was on a yellow and Atletico were, let's say, they were happy to go down to ground.

I think it was typical Klopp really, he wasn't just thinking about that moment, he was thinking about the steps ahead and Mane is going to be massively key for that second leg and I fancy them to get through and for Mane to show that pace and energy that's so important when you're 1-0 down or down in the first leg, we see it so many times over the last couple of years so I do think they'll be encouraged and we'll be alright.

Yeah, I mean, for me, having seen so many relegation battles over the year, I think it's game by game.

Still, I know that managers say it and it's so token, but I think it's actually the correct mentality.

Relegation six-pointers are completely sodden in pressure.

I mean...

Defeating one of those games could mean crisis, particularly at home.

So to pinpoint those as sort of the winnable games is really quite counterproductive.

And to pinpoint the games against bigger teams as sort of, not free hits, but as it's okay if we lose that.

I think that's also counterproductive because historically over the years in relegation battles, there's always a big shock result.