Rafael Benitez insists Liverpool can amaze Europe
again and make sure of unlikely Champions League qualification. To
stay in contention for a last 16 place, Liverpool need to beat
Hungarian champions Debrecen in the Ferenc Puskas stadium, and hope
Lyon do not lose away to Fiorentina in Tuesday's other Group E
match.
Benitez acknowledges Liverpool face an uphill task - but
believes anything is still possible. The Anfield chief said: "We
have produced miracles before, we can do the same again.
"It will be difficult, maybe another miracle. But all we can do
is our job. "If we can then play against Fiorentina with options of
winning and qualifying next week, that will be fantastic. Hopefully
we can do it.
"Last time in this position we managed to qualify and it was
amazing. It will be the same if we do it again. "We had to win our
last three games two years ago in the group stages, now it is only
two. We achieved success in a great way, scoring four against
Porto, eight against Besiktas and four in Marseille.
"That was magnificent. This time if we go through it will be
just the same feeling." Liverpool expect to have Glen Johnson and
Daniel Agger fit after calf and head injuries, with skipper Steven
Gerrard leading from the front in only his second start in more
than a month.
Gerrard is no stranger to miracles himself, having masterminded
Liverpool recovery acts in Istanbul, Marseille and at home against
Olympiacos.
Benitez said: "If anyone can do it, Gerrard can. But the whole
team believe it is possible." The Spaniard was in a confident mood
for his pre-match press conference where once again he was asked
that if Liverpool fail to qualify, will that be the end of his
Liverpool career. He laughed and responded: "No, I don't think
so."
He was clearly more concerned about the improving fitness of his
players, saying: "We have Johnson and Agger here because we believe
they will be fit to play.
"It is very important for us to have players coming back from
injury. They may not be ready but at least they are training and
working with the team.
"Gerrard was tired at the end against Manchester City on
Saturday, it had been a difficult game for him because he had not
trained with the team for three weeks. He will be okay for
tomorrow.
"For us it is easy and simple. We have to score and win, we do
not need to worry about what may happen in the future. "We must not
worry about what is happening in Florence, we have to concentrate
on doing our own job and winning the match."
And Benitez again dismissed the conspiracy theory that Lyon will
let Fiorentina win to make sure that Liverpool are eliminated.
He said: "It is an advantage to qualify in first place, so Lyon
will want to do that. "They are good professionals and want to win.
It will be good for the club and give them more money, too, they
will want to be top because you never know what the draw will throw
at them.
"It will be good for the Lyon coach and his players to want to
be top, I have confidence that they will try to do that."
