(L to R) Atletico Madrid's Portuguese forward Joao Felix, Atletico Madrid's Spanish midfielder Vitolo, Atletico Madrid's Spanish midfielder Saul Niguez and Atletico Madrid's Brazilian defender Renan Lodi gather on the pitch at the end of the Spanish League football match between Espanyol and Atletico Madrid at the Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella de Llobregat on March 1, 2020. (PAU BARRENA / AFP)

MADRID - Atletico Madrid will look to recapture their competitive spirit when they defend a 1-0 lead in the return leg of the Champions League last 16 tie away to reigning Champions Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Saul Niguez's goal was enough to give Atletico a narrow win in the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium and although Liverpool dominated the ball in that game three weeks ago, they lacked the spark to break down Diego Simeone's well-drilled side.

Atletico know that if they want to qualify for the last eight they will have to overcome the cauldron that is Liverpool's Anfield Stadium

ALSO READ: Four things to look out for in Spain's matchday 27

Liverpool have been slightly below their best since that defeat, ending a run of three consecutive defeats with a slightly unconvincing 2-1 win at home to Bournemouth on Saturday lunchtime.

However, Atletico know that if they want to qualify for the last eight they will have to overcome the cauldron that is Liverpool's Anfield Stadium, where the fans will look to cheer their team to victory.

Last season saw Liverpool produce one of the greatest comebacks in European history to beat Barcelona 4-0 in the semifinal, and on the face of it overturning a 1-0 deficit should be much easier than the 3-0 they had to overcome against Leo Messi and company.

Atletico will be confident that their defense is more reliable than Barca's and with Kieran Trippier back after injury and Diego Costa easing his way back into action, the team looks stronger than it did three weeks ago.

Liverpool's English midfielder James Milner attends a training session at Melwood in Liverpool, north west England on March 10, 2020, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg football match against Atletico Madrid. (PAUL ELLIS / AFP)

With Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino playing in front of their fans, it's hard to imagine Liverpool not scoring in the return leg. Speaking on the Atletico official website, Saul made an appeal for his side to be positive.

"It's going to be a very entertaining game and we will have to suffer. Any detail could decide it and above all we have to score an away goal and try and win the game," he said.

READ MORE: United win Manchester derby as Liverpool edge closer to title

"We know we don't have a big lead, so we have to try and win," continued Saul. The fact is that an away goal could be decisive, because if Atletico score one, then Liverpool would need to score three. Hardly anyone does that against Atletico, not even the European Champions.