Virgil van Dijk taps the Anfield sign on his way out of the tunnel and Jordan Henderson leads Liverpool out to a roaring Kop.

Another big night of Champions League football on the way in Merseyside.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Pep Guardiola is a perfectionist but is someone who is obsessed with performance. He is critical even when Man City are winning because there are some days you can play really well and not get a result and it's not the end of the world but other times you can squeak by in a game and get a result even if you don't play well.

But squeaking by in a game isn't conducive to winning trophies or actually doing anything sustainable in the league.

Image source, Gracenote

Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis, Nielsen's Gracenote:

In this evening's match, Liverpool can become the first English club to officially reach the last-16.

However, in reality they are already there as the Euro Club Index simulations give the Reds 99.64% chance of making it to the knockout phase.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Anfield

Image source, BBC Sport

The last time Atletico Madrid came to Anfield, in March 2020, the nation was about to go into lockdown because of COVID-19 and Liverpool went out of the Champions League to the Spanish side at the last-16 stage after losing 3-2 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.

Almost 20 months on, and the Reds are not in any danger of an imminent European exit, certainly not tonight - a win would send them through to the last 16 with two games to spare, and even a defeat would still leave them two points clear at the top of Group B.

Sadly though, Coronavirus still casts a shadow over this game. Only 200 Atletico fans have travelled to Merseyside because of concerns over the Delta variant, and they only take up a small pocket of the Anfield Road stand.

Image source, Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool should celebrate being with their supporters tonight.

Atletico's last visit to Anfield in March 2020 proved to be the final game played in England before the country went into lockdown because of Covid-19.

"The world turned upside down in parts," said Klopp.

"Not sure we could have imagined it that night, though I think we all had a sense that something interesting could happen to us, to society.

"I didn't know to what extent that night. It was the one game, when I thought about it later, which I never thought about like a football game.

"Just in my mind, it was a really strange moment."

Image source, Gracenote

Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis, Nielsen's Gracenote:

Manchester City may have lost to group rivals Paris S-Germain but it would take something close to a miracle to stop City progressing to the Champions League last-16.

Despite that defeat, Manchester City have 98% chance of reaching the knockout phase according to the Euro Club Index.

Manchester City

Manchester City cannot qualify tonight, but a win over Club Bruges would take them five points above the third-placed Belgian side with two games to go.

"We have to take it seriously to make a good performance," said City boss Pep Guardiola.

"This game gives us an incredible step forward to qualify for the Champions League last 16.

"This is more important than [Saturday's Manchester derby against] United.

"In the Premier League there are many games, here just six [in the group] and three left. They are decisive in the third and fourth - the most important games."

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Anfield

Loud boos for former Reds hero Luis Suarez from the Liverpool fans when the Atletico team is announced at Anfield. I don't think it will bother him too much, do you?

It is all over in Milan as the two sides draw 1-1.

That means Porto are second with five points and Milan are bottom with one point.

It also means Liverpool will progress as group winners if they beat Atletico...

Image source, Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp's side can progress from Group B with two games to spare if they win tonight.

"We were so happy when we qualified for the Champions League last year, because we knew we would have nights like this," said Klopp.

"Atletico are a good team, incredibly good team and ever since Diego [Simeone] is there, they never played a friendly game, so we should not expect that, but we will give it a try."

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Anfield

Image source, BBC Sport

Jurgen Klopp uses his programme notes to underline how his respect for Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone "could not be higher", but I think it's safe to say that we won't see them shaking hands at full-time tonight.

We should see some goals in the meantime, though, if both teams maintain their current scoring rate anyway.

In total, Liverpool have hit 40 goals in 13 Premier League and Champions League matches in 2021-22, at an average of more than three a match. Atletico are not quite at that level, but with 22 in 11 outings in Europe and La Liga, their average of two per game is not too shabby either.

I should also warn you that Emlyn is planning on keeping you updated on the League of Ireland First Division match between his beloved Treaty United and University College Dublin.

Yes, I know. Don't blame the messenger.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Etihad Stadium

There are 1,900 Club Bruges fans expected here tonight - and it looks like most are already in position.

It seems unlikely given how the game two weeks ago turned out but if Bruges were to win, they would be back above Manchester City in the group.

Image source, BBC Sport

Lots coming up...

Manchester City are up against Club Bruges and Liverpool host Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

Paris St-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax and Inter Milan are also in action at 8pm.

Tasty.

By some, Gary is referring to our mums.

Right, I'll keep an eye on the final few minutes of Milan's game with Porto but now it is time to hand over to what some describe as the best double act in football - Emma Sanders and Emlyn Begley.

All over and Real Madrid get the job done thanks to Karim Benzema's double.

They were far from convincing but go top of Group D for now.

Vinícius Júnior relieves the pressure on the Real defence as he races away on the counter. He tries to wriggle his way through the Shakhtar defence but has the ball taken from him.

I say that, Heorhii Sudakov's effort causes a bit of panic inside the Real Madrid box. Thibaut Courtois' save is unconvincing but the home side manage to scramble away the danger.

Despite the all-or-nothing substitutions the fight appears to have gone from Shakhtar and this is heading towards a Real win with a minute of normal time remaining.