Luis Garcia, the Atletico Madrid forward, has assured Liverpool supporters that he will feel no joy should he score against his former club in the Champions League tomorrow.

The Spanish international left Anfield during the summer of 2007, but says his three years at Liverpool will always hold a special place in his heart. As he prepares to face his former club for the first time since his departure Garcia says he will have mixed feelings about taking on Liverpool at the Vicente Calderon.

"I am always happy to score goals and I am an Atletico player now,” Garcia said. "In my heart I would feel strange, and I would say 'sorry' because I wouldn't feel any joy scoring against Liverpool.

“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."

If Wednesday’s game will be a special moment for the forward then Garcia says the return fixture at Anfield, on November 4, will be an even more emotionally-charged occasion.

"The game in Liverpool will be very special for me, in terms of sentimentality, the biggest of my career,” Garcia said. "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."