Rafa addresses press in Madrid

Rafa Benitez admitted it was nice to finally be in his home city of Madrid after an epic jaunt across the continent.

The boss was in good spirits as he gave his official pre-match press conference at the Vicente Calderon stadium on Wednesday night.

"I like coming back here because I have a lot of friends and my family are back here," Benitez told reporters.

"I'm really pleased to be here, and here at the Vicente Calderon everyone is very polite, very friendly."

Asked how the players occupied themselves during the day-long journey, Benitez added: "They were thinking with their eyes closed! I think they will be okay. Some of them were practicing video games and they're really experts now."

The Liverpool manager also had warm words for his opposite number, Quique Sanchez Flores.

Atletico are currently 10^th in La Liga but Benitez thinks Flores is performing well.

"He's doing a very good job," said the gaffer. "He managed to get to the final of the Copa del Rey and to the semi-finals of the Europa League. Teams sometimes have irregular seasons but I think he's doing a very good job.

"They are a very difficult team to beat. They attack very well and because they attack, people don't appreciate their defenders - but the team is very well organised, they know exactly what they have to do whether they play at home or away."

While Liverpool are without Fernando Torres, Atletico won't be able to call upon their star man, Sergio Aguero, who is suspended.

Reporters wanted to know which absentee was most crucial.

Benitez said: "It's difficult to say who is the biggest loser but both teams are going to miss these players."