A crunch week for Liverpool starts with the second leg
of their Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid at
Anfield on Tuesday.
The match is the first of a double-header that can make or break
Liverpool's season - and possibly go some way towards deciding
whether manager Rafa Benitez remains at the club.
After playing Real, Liverpool make the short trip to Old
Trafford on Saturday where anything other than a victory over
leaders Manchester United will effectively end their already faint
hopes of winning the Premier League.
"It is very important to approach this (Real) game thinking we
have to win it and not think about any other result," said Benitez,
whose side hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Madrid.
"What you must not do is think we are already there and it will
be easy," the Spaniard told reporters.
"Clearly, Real Madrid are a very good team. They are doing well
in the Spanish league. We won in the Bernabeu, which was very
pleasing, but it's important we finish the job at Anfield."
Liverpool's inconsistency and poor home form has been their
downfall since Christmas when they led the Premier League and
seemed to be on course for their first championship since 1990.
While a draw against Real would be enough to see them through to
the quarter-finals, Benitez also knows that Real are unlikely to be
as sluggish as they were in Madrid.
With Steven Gerrard not yet back to his best after injury, and
Fernando Torres also struggling for full fitness, Benitez will be
relying on Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun, the scorer in Madrid,
and Dirk Kuyt for some impressive performances.
"LIKE A FINAL"
Real must put the disappointment behind them of having their
10-match Primera Liga winning streak ended in a 1-1 draw at home
against city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
"The match against Liverpool will be like a final," coach Juande
Ramos said after Saturday's clash at the Bernabeu.
"It's going to be a difficult and passionate encounter and the
players are massively fired up so they can give the fans something
to cheer about."
Real were missing suspended central defender Pepe against
Atletico and the champions looked shaky at the back without him as
the visitors created a host of chances.
The Portuguese international's defensive partner, Fabio
Cannavaro, said Real were lucky to come away with a point and
called for immediate improvement.
"We have to get our shape back and quickly as we cannot fail
against Liverpool," the Italian World Cup-winning captain told
reporters. "We have to play as a team and quickly forget the
Atletico match."
Probable teams:
Liverpool: 25-Pepe Reina; 17-Alvaro Arbeloa,
23-Jamie Carragher, 37-Martin Skrtel, 12-Fabio Aurelio; 14-Xabi
Alonso, 20-Javier Mascherano, 8-Steven Gerrard; 15-Yossi Benayoun,
18-Dirk Kuyt, 9-Fernando Torres
Real: 1-Iker Casillas; 4-Sergio Ramos, 3-Pepe,
5-Fabio Cannavaro, 16-Gabriel Heinze; 11-Arjen Robben, 8-Fernando
Gago, 39-Lassana Diarra, 12-Marcelo; 7-Raul, 20-Gonzalo Higuain
Referee: Franck De Bleeckere (Belgium)