Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher has admitted that Standard Liege is one of the most difficult draws the club could have faced in Champions League qualifying.
Liege, the Belgian champions, held Rafael Benitez’s side to a 0-0 draw in the first leg and with the two sides scheduled to play the return match on Wednesday night at Anfield, Carragher has admitted the Merseysiders are in for a tough night.
Speaking to the News of the World, Carragher revealed that he felt being drawn against the Belgian side was one of the most difficult ties the club has ever faced in qualifying for the competition proper. He said: “They are definitely the toughest opponents we’ve had in a qualifier.”
Whilst a scoreless draw was disappointing for the Reds, it could have been a lot worse. Goalkeeper Pepe Reina saved a first half penalty which prevented Liege taking a vital lead in the tie.
However, the veteran centre back admitted that Liveropol were facing quality opposition. He said: “I know people expect us to get through but it’s not as if we’re playing a Mickey Mouse team. The Belgian league has a lot of quality and their champions are used to getting into the group stages.”
Despite Carragher’s remarks, Liverpool are widely expected to beat Liege and qualify for the group stages of the competition and the scoreless draw in the first leg was something of a surprise. The defender explained what had happened: “They caught us a bit cold in the first leg. Their manager said we were sleeping but they deserve credit for the way they played. They were spot on tactically, hitting us on the counter-attack. We didn’t play well and we know we’ll have to improve tactically.”
The former England defender also went on to praise Wednesday night’s opponents for their defensive display, which ensured that the Anfield side had few sights of goal. He confessed: “Any side which can keep Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane as quiet as they did in the first leg has quality. We didn’t have any chances in the game.”
Yet whilst Carragher is happy to praise Liege, he is clearly confident ahead of the second leg and admitted that it is vital that Liverpool win on Wednesday night to progress into the competition. He concluded: “It would be unthinkable for us not to be in the Champions League. To go through will give us momentum and confidence.”
Liege, the Belgian champions, held Rafael Benitez’s side to a 0-0 draw in the first leg and with the two sides scheduled to play the return match on Wednesday night at Anfield, Carragher has admitted the Merseysiders are in for a tough night.
Speaking to the News of the World, Carragher revealed that he felt being drawn against the Belgian side was one of the most difficult ties the club has ever faced in qualifying for the competition proper. He said: “They are definitely the toughest opponents we’ve had in a qualifier.”
Whilst a scoreless draw was disappointing for the Reds, it could have been a lot worse. Goalkeeper Pepe Reina saved a first half penalty which prevented Liege taking a vital lead in the tie.
However, the veteran centre back admitted that Liveropol were facing quality opposition. He said: “I know people expect us to get through but it’s not as if we’re playing a Mickey Mouse team. The Belgian league has a lot of quality and their champions are used to getting into the group stages.”
Despite Carragher’s remarks, Liverpool are widely expected to beat Liege and qualify for the group stages of the competition and the scoreless draw in the first leg was something of a surprise. The defender explained what had happened: “They caught us a bit cold in the first leg. Their manager said we were sleeping but they deserve credit for the way they played. They were spot on tactically, hitting us on the counter-attack. We didn’t play well and we know we’ll have to improve tactically.”
The former England defender also went on to praise Wednesday night’s opponents for their defensive display, which ensured that the Anfield side had few sights of goal. He confessed: “Any side which can keep Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane as quiet as they did in the first leg has quality. We didn’t have any chances in the game.”
Yet whilst Carragher is happy to praise Liege, he is clearly confident ahead of the second leg and admitted that it is vital that Liverpool win on Wednesday night to progress into the competition. He concluded: “It would be unthinkable for us not to be in the Champions League. To go through will give us momentum and confidence.”
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