Simeone may come to regret the triumphalism in the Spanish capital. Some of Liverpool’s finest performances on the continent have come after the opposition “poked the beast”. The most famous example was in 1981, in the European Cup semi-final. Bayern Munich came to Anfield for the first leg and were not impressed with the home side after their 0-0 draw. “They said some disparaging things about us on television after the first leg,” Alan Hansen said. “That we had no class, no touch, no technique.”

Paul Breitner, a World Cup winner for West Germany in 1974, was particularly dismissive. “I didn’t have to motivate the lads,” Bob Paisley, the great Liverpool manager said. “Breitner did it for me.”

Nevertheless, Paisley provided a little mental gee-up before the second leg in the Olympic Stadium. There were fliers on the seats advising Bayern fans about the best routes to the final in Paris. The manager brought one into the dressing room and showed it to the team. It was an indignity too far. A Liverpool side racked with injuries that featured two reserve defenders and lost Kenny Dalglish to a knock in the first 10 minutes shut down the German champions. The 1-1 scoreline did not reflect Liverpool’s dominance but was enough to put them in the final. “A few of us ended up in their dressing room,” Graeme Souness said. “We were giving it: ‘See you in Paris, chaps.’”

If Simeone’s team lose the return game, they might well find Robertson and company banging on their dressing-room door.

The other mistake Atletico have made is to dismiss the Anfield effect. The club moved across Madrid from their rickety but atmospheric Calderon Stadium to the sparkling new Wanda Metropolitano three years ago. Enrique Cerezo, the president, was disdainful when he talked about Liverpool’s home and his sly dig raised eyebrows on the Kop. “Anfield is a great stadium that is filled with great fans, but it is also very old,” he said. “If it had to pass a technical inspection from Uefa, it would not be able to do so to save its life.”

Cerezo should have learned a lesson from his neighbours, Real Madrid, whose contemptuous attitude to the ground rebounded badly 11 years ago. Rafa Benitez’s side had won 1-0 in the Bernabeu but Real were certain they could overturn the advantage in the second leg. Marca, the newspaper which is effectively the in-house journal of Spain’s most prominent club, produced a front page that carried a picture of the team training in the empty stadium with the headline “Esto es Anfield ... Y Que?” – “Anfield, so what?”

They found out the next night. In front of a tumultuous Kop, Liverpool stormed to a 4-0 victory. Real were blown away. They were unprepared for the ferocity of their reception, both on and off the pitch. Atletico will be on the receiving end of a similar welcome.

In the first leg, Simeone’s team let their opponents have the ball but controlled the tempo of the game. Liverpool had 73 per cent of the possession but were unable to carve out enough chances. To be successful in the return match, Klopp’s side will have to play at a much quicker velocity and force Atletico out of their comfort zone.

The crowd at Anfield are vital in helping achieve this. They feed off the team and vice versa. As Barcelona found out last season, even a 3-0 lead is not safe when the Kop and the players get in sync and ramp up the pace and the noise. When that happens, the stadium becomes unbearable for opponents. Simeone, like his president, will play down the power of Anfield to his squad but it is no myth. Even the most sceptical visiting managers, players and journalists have to admit that the atmosphere alchemises into something special on big European nights. Atleti have made this one bigger than it should have been with their actions earlier in the week.

This has become a grudge match. An epic showdown looms at Anfield.