Jurgen Klopp says he knew Liverpool would either face one of the teams in Madrid in the UEFA Champions League last 16 stage.

The defending Champions on Monday were drawn against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid in the knockout stage f Europe’s elite competition after topping Group E with 13 points.

Ahead of their busiest December schedules, Klopp watched the draw at the club’s team base in Qatar as the Reds prepare to play FC Monterrey on Wednesday in the semi final of the FIFA Club World Cup.

“It’s an interesting draw. Before the draw I actually thought it would be Madrid – either one of the two clubs – and that’s the way it is.

“Madrid is the place where we only have fantastic memories, all of us, so that’s great, but this time we play Atletico there and it’s their home ground.

“It’s a tough one, but if you go through all of the draws, there are pretty much four or five potential finals already in the last 16.

“So, really, really good; a good draw, a difficult game like it should be, but how we most of the time think and say, I don’t think Mr Simeone is running through his living room and is happy that he got Liverpool.

“It will be a tough game. Two teams who are used to playing intense football, different styles and slightly different organization of course, but both are ready for intensity and that makes it pretty tough for both.”

Liverpool won their sixth European trophy against Spurs at the home of Atletico Madrid; Estadio Metropolitano creating an unforgettable atmosphere in the minds of Liverpool fans across the globe. When asked if it’ll be special to head back to Estadio Metropolitano, the manager said, “I think so, we’ll see.”

“I think we had the home dressing room in that game. Maybe we can ask them: can we have that dressing room again! It was really nice. It was full with Liverpool signs, but I think they’ve got rid of them.

“It is fantastic. What can I say? I had one of the best nights of my life in this stadium, but this time – first and foremost – we have to go there to work and try our best.

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“Then they have to come to Anfield, which is a very nice place as well.”

Klopp refused to downplay the quality of Atletico Madrid and spoke that “it is somehow the strongest ever last 16 or last eight, but it looks like it becomes stronger and stronger every year.”

“It’s good, it’s good because that’s what the Champions League should be. There were never, ever easy opponents in any round. It feels like a day since we did the job in the group stage, but it’s a week ago. It’s still fresh and we were really happy that night and we’re still happy that we can face a strong opponent in this round now.”