Champions League / maxliu / 22 October 2008 / 1 Comments

"Diego Forlan," Manchester United fans used to sing, "makes Scousers cry." Not tonight he won't, says Max Liu.

Liverpool's Champions League opponents currently lie eighth in La Liga but, despite losing the local derby to Real on Saturday and a heavy defeat to Barcelona the previous week, an indifferent start to the season has done nothing to dampen Atletico's appetite for what they are calling the "game of the century."

Former Atletico star Fernando Torres' hamstring injury rules him out for the match which takes place at the Vicente Calderon stadium despite originally having been moved 300 kilometres away after a UEFA stadium ban followed incidents of racist abuse from fans in their game against Marseille.

Rafael Benitez campaigned against the ban, saying it was unfair on Liverpool supporters, but, as a lifelong supporter, former player, youth coach and assistant manager of Real, he can expect a hot reception from home fans.

But Benitez's knowledge of La Liga sides combined with the likely presence of four Spaniards in the Liverpool line-up suggests that the Reds should have the measure of Atletico. Without playing particularly well so far this season Liverpool have made a solid start to their domestic and European campaigns.

The mettle they have showed in the Premier League has led to speculation that this could finally be their year domestically and the form of Dirk Kuyt is not good news for Madrid. As with his team, the Dutchman is matching end product with endeavour this season and he is a good price to be first goalscorer at [10.0].

But Liverpool have not been reliable starters of late, having to come from behind in the league against Manchester City and Wigan, and if this really is Atletico's "game of the century" then they ought to be up for it from the outset. In that case, Diego Forlan, who will have fond memories of playing against Liverpool having once scored two goals for Manchester United at Anfield, might make a reasonable alternative at [8.4].

This, though, is Europe and it would be unwise to expect Benitez's men to carry their occasional defensive frailties across the Bay of Biscay. A combination of local nous and heightened concentration could make for a Liverpool clean sheet at [3.25] and victory at [2.92].