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Rafael Benitez has promised Liverpool's Champions League
form will be 'much, much better' when they bid this week to reach
the group stages for the fifth successive time
The Liverpool boss is acutely aware that his side's third
qualifying round first leg display away to Standard Liege earlier
in the month was unacceptable and they were fortunate to cling onto
a 0-0 draw.
That display in Belgium at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne has put at
risk the crucial flow of UEFA prize money Liverpool needs, more
than ever, to maintain their position amongst English football's
top four.
Now Benitez's side must produce their best display of the season
so far to make sure that they reach the group stages.
Benitez said: 'Our display this time will be much, much better.
Of that I am confident.' Anything less could create the biggest
financial crisis in the club's recent history.
The American owners are facing huge costs to build a new
stadium, and also to re-finance loans in the near future. And they
have already transferred some of their debt to the club, which
means that £30million a year has to be found to meet interest
repayments.
In four years, Liverpool have claimed over £100million in prize
money from UEFA, averaging more than £20million a season having
reached two finals, a semi-final and the last 16 in that time.
Failure to even reach the group stages would cost Liverpool an
immediate £12million and put in question all Benitez's plans.
