UCL : Olympique Marseille vs Liverpool FC
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Date 12th December 2007 / Wednesday morning
Kick-off 3.45am
Venue : Velodrome Stadium , Marseille . -
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admitted his mind was already on Marseille after his side slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Reading.
The Spaniard took off skipper Steven Gerrard and star striker Fernando Torres to make sure they were not ruled out of Tuesday night's must-win Champions League game in France.
Torres was hurt during the match but Benitez claimed he expected the former Atletico Madrid man to be available for a game that will go a long way towards shaping Liverpool's season.
Benitez said: "We were losing 3-1 and we knew it was really difficult so I was trying to protect the key players for the next game.
"We tried to change it with different players with pace and fresh legs. The Champions League is important. Marseille is the target now.
"Torres had a kick on his ankle so was at risk. He will be okay."
Benitez was convinced referee Andre Marriner had blundered when he had to make penalty decisions at either end of the pitch - awarding Reading one that appeared to be outside the box and denying his side two stronger shouts.
He said: "I am not happy with the decisions but we didn't take our chances and that was maybe the key. We should have had two penalties."
Reading manager Steve Coppell was determined to enjoy his side's first success against one of the so-called 'big four' clubs.
And he insisted his players deserved plaudits for their contributions rather than everyone focusing on Liverpool's shortcomings.
He said: "Wins now, because we are not having as many as last year, they are treasured. Any team in the bottom half of the table would say that. We fully intend to enjoy it tonight.
FoxSports -
The Anfield club's co-owner has made a surprise decision to be at the Stade Velodrome to see for himself whether Liverpool can pull off the great escape and force their way into the last 16.
Gillett and Tom Hicks were not expected on this side of the Atlantic until later in the week for their much-heralded meeting with boss Rafael Benitez, following the fall-out over the new American owners' transfer policy.
The pair were due to be on Merseyside at the weekend for the Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United, but Gillett will now have the chance for a low-key chat with Benitez in the south of France first.
Gillett will hope to witness Liverpool's third successive group victory, this time against the French side, which will ensure a remarkable qualification for the knock-out stages few expected after the Reds' dreadful start to the campaign.
That included a 1-0 defeat by Marseille at Anfield in October, a result that eventually plunged Benitez and the club into a crisis few could have predicted, with the manager's own position under threat.
There has been a considerable thaw in the relationship between owners and manager of late, brokered by chief executive Rick Parry and Gillett's son Foster, who has been installed to work alongside Parry at the club.
Victory in Marseille would make serious talks later in the week far more convivial.
And Benitez is fully aware of the task against the French. Impressive home wins over Besiktas and Porto were largely expected, but a victory in Marseille in a winner-takes-all clash is a totally different matter.
The game has been reduced to a straight knock-out cup tie with the winners sure of progression to the last 16.
Marseille's boss Eric Gerets has spelt out how his own side will approach the dramatic tie.
He said: "We will fight to the death to get into the next round.
"We know Liverpool must win too, but our victory at Anfield was a big blow for them and it also shows that we can beat them.
"We really have not played any bad matches in the competition, any we have lost have been because of positional or individual mistakes by young players. Generally we have done well in this group."
The group is finely balanced with all four clubs having a chance of qualifying.
Porto and Besiktas clash in the Dragao Stadium at the same time on what will be a nail-biting night.
The odds favour the French club reaching the next stage because a draw, coupled with a Porto win, would send Marseille through due to their victory at Anfield on October 3.
If Besiktas triumph in Portugal then a draw would be enough for Liverpool. Then the Turkish side would finish as winners of the group while Porto, Liverpool and Marseille would all have eight points with the English side progressing by virtue of their superior record against the other two teams.
That would be a heavy blow to the French who must have thought they had the edge over the Merseysiders after that win at Anfield in Gerets' first game in charge, thanks to a Mathieu Valbuena strike 13 minutes from time.
It was their second successive victory and gave them top spot in the section.
However, since then Marseille have gained only one point - at home to Porto - and have lost their last two games at Porto and Besiktas by the same 2-1 score.
Benitez will attempt to send out a calm, controlled Liverpool for the vital tie.
He has a showdown with Manchester United in the league five days later, and a Carling Cup tie at Chelsea the following week.
Clearly a make-or-break spell for manager and club, but Benitez believes his players can handle the situation.
He said: "The players have experience of playing several important competitions at the same time so they will know how to handle this, they can do it.
"What is important is that we approach every game knowing we are playing well, we have confidence and then you only think about the next game when you have won the first one."
Benitez is hoping that Danish defender Daniel Agger will be back from a metatarsal injury to contest a centre-back role with Sami Hyypia, while Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso are also in contention. Team Talk -
Liverpool for the win
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Liverpool is always good for doing this kinda stuff. I fancy them completing the great escape.
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Has to win or Rafa goes...
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Win win win!!!!
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Choi !!!!!Originally posted by CoolMyth:Has to win or Rafa goes... 
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No Sissoko again please!
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Cmon la Marseille leh
Liverpool should win easily
If they play the right team, and I think Benitez will. -
Every one were very confident that Reading will be beaten by Liverpool.
But, Ah Ben have springed a surprise with a strange formation with no wing to lose the match.
I have utmost confidence in the every single Liverpool players to give the fans a win. (Except for one guy who destroyed everyone including himself)
But, if Ah Ben's rotation fever is back, his cannons may be pointing at his own feet.
If he decide that he can use a super new formation with Momo included, then the American owner can do what Trump have done: " You are Fired !" when we are out of the champion league. -
just wondering wen wud agger, alonso and penant return? i think crouchie really miss pennant's crossing
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liverpool will go all out attack to win in this match so dat they can qualify next round.
if this match land in a draw n should besiktas beat porto (impossible becos besiktas is playing away), liverpool will still qualify. -
0-2 to Liverpool now.
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This IS the liverpool i want to see. pressing football. give the opposition no space at all.
and torres's goal is mere class. -
liverpool surely win lah.
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i tink they r playing pretty good football, especially with kewell getting back his form i tink overall liverpool's attack form quite a potent threat. bennie shud b sticking to a few players like torres thats spearheading their attack. voronin crouch n kuyt may be rotated among them but i wud prefer kuyt and crouch. midfield wise they may ve to sell 1? its reli too crowded. alonso, gerrard, momo ( he shud go ), masch and now leiva.
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Wow , fantastic display on both attacking and defensive footall by L'pool !
Gerrard our inspiration .
Torres was a thorn in Marseille's defense .
Kuyt was also very hardworking .
Kewell .... knn playing for an extension . -
FT 4-0 .
Babel scored a late goal ....
Okay job done !
Lpool progress into next phase . -
Lets look forward to this weekend.
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Liverpool 2nd ....
Which means we will be facing Group winners ....
Teams like
Inter Milan
Ac Milan
Chelsea
Sevilla / Arsenal
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Man Utd
I'm hoping we get Chelsea again ..... -
Kengster link-up with Torres is the best so far.
He knows the Big Boss is watching so he have to play hard to get a new contract and more MC.
Torres is Liverpool's missing link.
The team deployed tonight is Liverpool best 11 players.
Ah Ben is lucky to get it right again.
The team played excellently well in the 1st 15 mins when the opponents try to be very physical.
Another Happy Dec morning for me !!!
Same for Ah Ben.
He need another match win against Red Devils to score his bonus with the American boss.
We need Number 20 for Liverpool. -
its liverpool's day today. the only imperfect thing is porto won against besiktas.
gerrard could have easily missed that penalty (technically, he missed) and it could be a different story. i was bracing for a nervy match till the very last minute but marseille is not in the mood to play football.
the scoreline could have been 8-0 if not for all those close misses. just hope they aint that wasteful and complacent against man utd this coming weekend. -
came back soaking wet after watching the match near my coffeeshop. it was completely one-sided n great display by liverpool.
zenden and cisse last time pool players right? i think marseille used up all the subs in 1st half, dat's why they r tired out in the 2nd half.
gerrard was clever to score the penalty after he missed from the rebound of marseille goalie. heard he was top scorer wif 23 goals.
mr keng look very promising as left winger as he manages to win ball often from the opponent. i believe he will give ronaldog hell this saturday. -
I hope Liverpool meet AC Milan.
This is the team we have to beat.
Chelsea can come later.
Beating Chelsea with Jose is more shiok.
