Dortmund "Will Gain Strength” From Raucous Anfield Atmosphere

Liverpool will head into tonight’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Borussia Dortmund in front of a loud Anfield crowd looking to help power them to the semi-finals. Their opponents, though, have no shortage of experience playing in front of loud crowds thanks to their own passionate supporters, and rather than being nervous about the prospect of an energized Anfield, they too are looking forward to it.

"It’s a knockout game, so we’ll either go out of go through, but we’re looking at it positively," said Dortmund midfielder Julian Weigl when asked about tonight’s decisive match. "We’ll soak up the atmosphere and gain strength from it. Liverpool were very good in the first leg, and perhaps we should have done better, but we know our strengths and will look to improve on that first game when we know we made some mistakes."

A raucous Anfield seemed to unsettle Manchester United when they faced Liverpool in the last round of the Europa League, something that surprised many, but Dortmund—second in the Bundesliga and used to playing in front of their Yellow Wall—should be more used to the kind of atmosphere they’ll be playing in tonight. Still, while Dortmund may be better equipped to weather it, Liverpool seem far more likely to benefit.

Manager Jürgen Klopp has already pointed to the crowd being more important to their chances of advancing than the away goal Liverpool earned in the opening round, and supporters have plans to meet the teams as they arrive tonight—something that hasn’t been done since Liverpool’s title challenge in 2013-14 and that should help to set the mood ahead of what’s set to be the biggest game the club has played in almost two years.

"We certainly won’t be flying the white flag," was Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp’s pronouncement as he prepared his side for the match. "We’re aware of Dortmund’s quality and that they can play better, but so can we. I don’t think we went to the limit of our ability last week."