Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson says the fans will be crucial in their Champions League clash tonight against Atletico Madrid.

The Reds must overcome a 1-0 deficit to reach the quarterfinals.

Henderson, fit for the game, wrote in his match programme notes: “Part of having something special in life is making sure you never take it for granted. That counts for so many things – but as a Liverpool player the positive impact of Anfield and the Kop should be top of that list.

“I know going into tonight's game there'll be a lot of talk about the importance of us being at home. There will no doubt have been dozens of articles and broadcasts referencing historic and special Anfield European nights, but we can never and will never take it for granted.

“It never 'just' happens. These occasions come because we make it happen – all of us.

“People from groups like Spion Kop 1906 bring the colour – the supporters bring the passion – and then as players we have to bring the intensity of performance. The moment we assume things will happen for us just because it's Liverpool and it's Anfield and it's the European Cup, then it won't.

“None of us take any of this for granted and we come into this game knowing if we want something special to happen, we have to work hard to make it so.

“That's what we'll look do as players: give everything we have and, if we do, we know the support will be there driving us on."