Simeone, with Diego Costa and João Félix in attack at Anfield

Diego Costa was one of the letters that Simeone lacked last year in the round of 16 against Juventus in Turin and will be his surprise in this one. As in that one way. Coast in Anfield, holder. Lagarto's is the bet of the Argentine coach in his front, along with João Félix, instead of Morata, who last Saturday suffered a blow to the thigh against Sevilla.

Costa's fury as an antidote to the fault that Klopp has prepared in Anfield. The striker returned from his injury, cervical disc herniation that forced him to go through the operating room in November, precisely in the first leg of this tie. A Coast that has since played 62 minutes spread over three games. That against Liverpool (13 '), Espanyol (27') and Sevilla (22 '). No goal. He has only two in a season in which he has only been able to play 33% of the total minutes. But it's Costa. His presence alone threatens.

The rest will be as expected. Oblak in the goal and Trippier and Lodi in the bands. The Cholo reserved himself precisely to the Brazilian side against Sevilla on the weekend because he was dragging a contracture and needed it ready for this game, in the first leg it was fundamental, both in attack and defense. In the center of the defense of the last nine games: Savic-Felipe.

In the center three positions are non-negotiable, those that occupy Thomas, who also did not play in Seville by penalty not even a season before Juventus in Turin and that is the rigor and balance of the center of the field. Like Saul, the rojiblanco that always stands out in these nights, the great Champions, and the captain, Koke, who makes everyone else better. Correa is also non-negotiable at the moment: from being out in summer to gain ownership with goals, assists and differential talent.

Next to Costa, João Félix. The rojiblanco club paid 127 million last summer to be differential in games like this. His great night has come. In summer I had no better partner than the Hispanic-Brazilian. That is what Simeone will think when tonight his team jumps in Anfield, to play the remaining 90 minutes of this tie that, for the moment, is winning 1-0.