Old Boy Backs Reds for Glory
Luis Garcia was a hero of Liverpool's 2005 European Cup triumph in Istanbul and will come face to face with his old Anfield friends in the Vicente Calderon stadium later this week.
It will be his first meeting with the club he spent three happy years with, and he still admits to following all their matches.
Their form has impressed him, and the 30-year-old said: "The team and the squad is getting stronger each year, and I am sure that Rafa (Benitez) deep down believes he can take the team closer to the league this season even though he may never show it publicly.
"I have watched and you can see the team growing, If they continue in this way they could win the league."
That would clearly delight Luis Garcia, but he is not sure of his emotions if he scores against Liverpool in the back-to-back Group D matches over the next fortnight.
He said: "I am always happy to score goals and I am an Atletico player now. In my heart I would feel strange, and I would say 'sorry' because I wouldn't feel any joy scoring against Liverpool."
Luis Garcia is still remembered fondly on the Kop, and says: "It makes me happy that Liverpool fans look back and appreciate what I gave to the team.
"There were times last year when I wished I was back there, when I watched Liverpool games and thought I could add something to the team, I became frustrated just thinking about it."
Luis Garcia left Liverpool when Fernando Torres moved from Atletico, although the deals were not formally linked.
Initially he struggled to get into Madrid's first team regularly and has not always been a fixture in the side this term - he was only a late substitute in Saturday's home defeat by Real Madrid - but has impressed in Europe.
He starred in the club's win away to PSV Eindhoven in the opening group match, but he does not know whether Atletico boss Javier Aguirre will utilise his skills against Benitez's men, saying: "I have played in a few positions so far this season, mainly on the right but the boss knows I can also play as a striker.
"There have been games that I have switched to that role and confused the opposition. It worked against PSV and I set up a goal.
"Whether we try that against Liverpool is different because Rafa understands my game and will know what to try if I do that."
Luis Garcia has had a string of assists this season and also scored in the Champions League qualifier against Schalke.
He added: "When I first arrived things were not working out the way I expected when I decided to leave Liverpool.
"I was thinking all the time that I had made the wrong decision to come back to Spain. But this season things have been more positive, I feel a lot better about my game."
Luis Garcia scored 10 vital goals for Liverpool in the Champions League, including that controversial winner against Chelsea in the 2005 semi-final, and can expect a warm reception from Liverpool's travelling fans on Wednesday, and a hero's reception on November 4 in the return.
He said: "The game in Liverpool will be very special for me, in terms of sentimentality, the biggest of my career.
"I was not able to say goodbye properly when I left because I was injured at the end of the season, it was the worst way possible to finish my career there.
"I was so happy there and am desperate to play one more game at Anfield."
There will clearly be mixed emotions over the two games for the Spanish international, but none over his desire to see Liverpool crowned Premier League champions.
He said: "When I first joined, Chelsea were far better than us, the gap is closing and Liverpool can now win the league."
