STANDARD Liege boss Laszlo Boloni admits he fears the damage Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard’s partnership can do to his team.
The Belgian title holders will prepare for their Champions League third qualifying round second leg with confidence after their 0-0 draw in Liege a fortnight ago.
But at Anfield tonight Boloni sees Torres and Gerrard as the main obstacle to his club reaching the group stages for the first time.
Boloni won the European Cup 22 years ago in the infamous Steaua Bucharest side that overcame Barcelona in a boring goalless clash in Seville after which the Romanians were accused of playing for penalties from the start.
Boloni scored in that penalty shoot-out, and many feel Liege will need that level of defiance to survive against a chastened Liverpool.
Boloni said: “What does concern me is the relationship that Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have achieved.
“They are two fine players and have a fine link, something they have struck up very quickly as players. It is very important to Liverpool, they know each other’s game very well.
“But then Liverpool can be dangerous from every part of the field, we will have to be very careful. If I was 30 years younger, I would love to be involved myself.”
And he sees coaching a victory at Anfield comparable to anything he achieved as a player.
Boloni said: “Over three or four years at Steaua, I cannot say to anyone that we were the best, but we were beating the best.
“For Standard to win here would be comparable to anything I achieved as a player at Steaua.”
Liege have defender Oguchi Onyewu, who had a spell at Newcastle, back from suspension.
The Belgian title holders will prepare for their Champions League third qualifying round second leg with confidence after their 0-0 draw in Liege a fortnight ago.
But at Anfield tonight Boloni sees Torres and Gerrard as the main obstacle to his club reaching the group stages for the first time.
Boloni won the European Cup 22 years ago in the infamous Steaua Bucharest side that overcame Barcelona in a boring goalless clash in Seville after which the Romanians were accused of playing for penalties from the start.
Boloni scored in that penalty shoot-out, and many feel Liege will need that level of defiance to survive against a chastened Liverpool.
Boloni said: “What does concern me is the relationship that Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have achieved.
“They are two fine players and have a fine link, something they have struck up very quickly as players. It is very important to Liverpool, they know each other’s game very well.
“But then Liverpool can be dangerous from every part of the field, we will have to be very careful. If I was 30 years younger, I would love to be involved myself.”
And he sees coaching a victory at Anfield comparable to anything he achieved as a player.
Boloni said: “Over three or four years at Steaua, I cannot say to anyone that we were the best, but we were beating the best.
“For Standard to win here would be comparable to anything I achieved as a player at Steaua.”
Liege have defender Oguchi Onyewu, who had a spell at Newcastle, back from suspension.
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