Benítez 'sure' Liverpool will
triumph
If Rafael Benítez is a man who thrives on pressure, he will surely
be in his element when Liverpool FC take on FC Porto in a crucial
UEFA Champions League match at Anfield on Wednesday.
'Must not lose'
The game has been billed as must-win for Liverpool, but Benítez was
keen to stress that even a point against Porto might be enough to
eventually see the five-time champions through to the last 16. "We
must not lose," he said. "This may be something that people have
not considered, but if we draw and then beat [Olympique de]
Marseille and Beºiktaº [JK] also beat Marseille [on Wednesday],
maybe we can also qualify. It's really important to win but it's
more important not to make mistakes."
'No distractions'
Benítez has seen his position as manager become the subject of
media speculation following an alleged fall-out with the club's
American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, concerning his
ability to sign new players. However, the Spaniard neatly
sidestepped every question regarding his future as he kept his
focus on tackling the Portuguese Liga leaders. "I am sure we will
win and we will play well," he said. "There have been no
distractions ... we have only been thinking about Porto and nothing
else. The most important thing for my club and our supporters is
the game."
'Pretty football'
A tournament-record 8-0 victory against Beºiktaº on Matchday 4
enhanced Liverpool's qualification prospects and started a sequence
of three successive wins which culminated in Saturday's 3-0 triumph
at Newcastle United FC which left the Reds in fifth place in
England. "We are unbeaten [in the Premier League] and in the last
game we played really well. We were passing the ball and playing
pretty football, so everything is much better now and we will try
to keep the momentum going," said Benítez, who will be without
defender Daniel Agger and midfielders Jermaine Pennant and Xabi
Alonso due to injury.
Porto poised
Group A leaders Porto will qualify for the knockout stage if they
win, although a point against Liverpool could also suffice provided
Marseille avoid defeat at Beºiktaº. Porto moved to the summit by
overcoming Marseille 2-1 in their last European outing and they are
also unbeaten in the Liga. A 2-0 home victory over Vitória FC on
Sunday kept them four points clear of SL Benfica at the top, and
coach Jesualdo Ferreira is in positive mood. "It's true that a draw
could serve Porto's interests but we are not thinking like that,
that was never the idea," he said. "If we play at the highest
levels we are capable of, then we will know if a draw is enough to
get us through."
Changes possible
Ferreira has no injury concerns yet admitted he may tinker with his
side: "We are not going to try to change our tactics but Liverpool
have a different method and I will decide which of my players are
best suited to playing as well and as openly as I want them to, and
also with great intensity. Liverpool have a solid and balanced team
and they have a tradition of attacking very quickly. They have
great strength in depth."
