Atletico Madrid ace Saul in awe of Liverpool ahead of UCL last 16 tie

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Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez has hailed Liverpool on the eve of the teams’ clash in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The Spain international was previewing the two-legged clash, the first game of which takes place at the scene of Liverpool’s success in the 2018/19 competition – the Wanda Metropolitano – on Tuesday.

Liverpool head into the game in imperious form, having remarkably won all but five games in all competitions so far this season.

Two of those non-victories have occurred in the Champions League against Napoli, which may give Atleti some hope of knocking the holders out.

Saul – who has a £125 million buyout clause (Guardian) – knows the enormity of the task though, and heaped praise on Jurgen Klopp’s side.

He told The Guardian: “One breaks out to press, wild, but they follow. It’s very hard to escape when they come at you like that.

“It’s incredible: they press like animals, because they know that even if they get turned there will be seven of them running like mad to get back.

“Liverpool are very complete, a great team in every area [but] they find it hardest when you’re deep because they’re very, very, very good in transition.”

Liverpool’s hard work off the ball is something that has come in for regular praise in recent times, and is a major factor in them being so hard to beat.

TBR’s view – Saul and co have to do it better

Saul has commented how impressed he is with Liverpool’s work out of possession, so it is important that his side are better in that department over the two legs if they want to progress.

Atleti themselves are known for being tenacious and gritty, and Diego Simeone’s men will have to work their socks off to defeat the Liverpool juggernaut.

The Spanish side aren’t the same force as a couple of years ago, but they are still a potential banana skin for the Reds.