Matchday 1 of the 2008-09 Champions League group stages will see Liverpool travel to Marseille in a battle of the once-greats. Both were at one time the unrivalled giants of their country, yet neither have won a league title since the early 1990s. Both remain their country’s most successful club but are in serious danger of losing that mantle. Both have been looking forward to ‘next year’ for far too long.
But the time may finally be nigh for two of Europe’s historical heavyweights to reclaim their crowns. Both have invested extensively yet shrewdly in the market over the last few summers. Both have assembled arguably their strongest team on paper since their heyday. And neither have the chameleon-haired, brittle-legged Djibril Cisse in their squad any more.
What’s more, they each go into their Champions League opener in decent touch.
Liverpool are lucky to even be in the competition after their indifferent showing against Standard Liege in the third round of qualifying. It took the Reds until the 207th minute of the tie to break open the Belgian champions’ defence, Dirk Kuyt poking home deep in extra time of the second leg to spare his team-mates’ and his manager’s blushes.
But things have picked up quite suddenly for the Merseyside giants. They remain unbeaten and sit second in the Premier League table after claiming a thoroughly deserved win against Manchester United on Saturday. It is Liverpool’s best start since Rafael Benitez arrived in 2004, and they travel to the south of France high on confidence.
Once again, Marseille’s situation is similar. They couldn’t quite hold on to claim their first win at Bordeaux in 31 years, but the draw leaves them second in Ligue 1 behind perennial front-runners Olympique Lyon. In other words, it has been a promising start for Eric Gerets’ side as they seek to deny les Gones an eighth consecutive title – just as Liverpool hope to prevent United matching their record of 18 English championships.
Liverpool and Marseille will be sick at the sight of each other by the end of the group stage, having met at the same point of last season’s Champions League. L’OM inflicted a shock defeat on the Reds at Anfield, courtesy of Mathieu Valbuena’s unanswered stunner. But the five-time European champs hit back with a 4-0 win at Stade Velodrome to progress to the knockout rounds – they eventually reached the semi-finals, where they fell to Chelsea – while their hosts were dumped into the UEFA Cup. The fixtures are reversed this time around, but it remains to be seen whether the results will differ.
FORM GUIDE
Marseille
13 Sept v Bordeaux (A) DREW 1-1
30 Aug v Sochaux (H) WON 2-1
27 Aug v SK Brann (H) WON 2-1
23 Aug v Le Havre (A) WON 1-0
17 Aug v Auxerre (H) WON 4-0
Liverpool
13 Sept v Manchester United (H) WON 2-1
31 Aug v Aston Villa (A) DREW 0-0
27 Aug v Standard Liege (H) WON 1-0
23 Aug v Middlesbrough (H) WON 2-1
16 Aug v Sunderland (A) WON 1-0
TEAM NEWS
Marseille
The home side have been buoyed by the return of Mathieu Valbuena, who proved to be Liverpool’s bane at Anfield last season. The 23-year-old midfielder had been battling a groin injury, but he featured against Bordeaux at the weekend and could start on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Hatem Ben Arfa is also hoping to return to the starting XI after sustaining a knee knock during training recently. The France winger, like Valbuena, managed a late substitute appearance at the weekend and is likely to feature in some capacity agains the Reds. Karim Ziani remains an option for the left, however, while Bolo Zenden is on standby to line up against his old club.
Coach Gerets employed something resembling a diamond midfield at Bordeaux, with Benoit Cheyrou and Charles Kabore playing box-to-box roles on the flanks. That shape may well be ditched for a 4-2-3-1 with captain Lorik Cana returning in a holding role alongside either Cheyrou or Modeste M’bami.
Possible Line-Up: Mandanda – Bonnart, Hilton, Zubar, Taiwo – Cana, Cheyrou or M’bami – Kone, Valbuena or Ziani, Ben Arfa – Niang
Liverpool
All the speculation surrounding Liverpool ahead of this clash concerns the fitness of Steven Gerrard (groin) and Fernando Torres (hamstring). The pair were left out of the starting XI against the Red Devils at the weekend, Gerrard coming on halfway through the second period while Torres sat out altogether. Both were expected to be fit for the trip to France but rumours have sprung up that they could be left out of the squad entirely.
That would leave Benitez in something of a pickle given Javier Mascherano pulled up with a calf complaint late in the United game. Either of Damien Plessis and Lucas Leiva may thus be given an opportunity in midfield beside Xabi Alonso, while David N’Gog or Ryan Babel could start up front (or both, if the somewhat out-of-touch Robbie Keane gets dropped).
Sami Hyypia’s surprise exclusion from the Champions League roster means Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger are left to fight for a place beside Jamie Carragher in central defence, while Andrea Dossena and Fabio Aurelio will battle for the left-back slot. Albert Reira, who impressed on debut at the weekend, is a possibility to retain his place on the left wing, while Dirk Kuyt is likely to line up on the right.
The formation will depend on who is available. While it would be a surprise if Benitez made any significant changes from the side that defeated the English and European champions, if Gerrard and Torres are fit then the system may have to be shifted to accommodate them.
Possible Line-Up: Reina – Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Dossena – Mascherano, Alonso – Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel – Torres
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Marseille
Bakary Kone comes into the clash in good form after scoring in the first minute against Bordeaux. The Ivorian forward was one of Marseille’s star recruits during the summer and has settled well at his new club, showing promise both on the right and up front. Taye Taiwo is another one to keep an eye on, inasmuch as the Nigerian full-back’s attacking instincts mean both sides are likely to get some joy down Marseille’s left flank.
Liverpool
As mentioned earlier, it’s a matter of who plays for the Reds. If Gerrard and Torres start, then they are the obvious drawcards. If the skipper sits out, expect Xabi Alonso to see an awful lot of the ball. The Basque playmaker has been in excellent form of late, as evidenced by his dominant performance against United at the weekend. Alonso’s craft paired with Mascherano’s graft seems a winning combo, and it makes one wonder why Benitez was so eager to sell his compatriot over the summer.
But the time may finally be nigh for two of Europe’s historical heavyweights to reclaim their crowns. Both have invested extensively yet shrewdly in the market over the last few summers. Both have assembled arguably their strongest team on paper since their heyday. And neither have the chameleon-haired, brittle-legged Djibril Cisse in their squad any more.
What’s more, they each go into their Champions League opener in decent touch.
Liverpool are lucky to even be in the competition after their indifferent showing against Standard Liege in the third round of qualifying. It took the Reds until the 207th minute of the tie to break open the Belgian champions’ defence, Dirk Kuyt poking home deep in extra time of the second leg to spare his team-mates’ and his manager’s blushes.
But things have picked up quite suddenly for the Merseyside giants. They remain unbeaten and sit second in the Premier League table after claiming a thoroughly deserved win against Manchester United on Saturday. It is Liverpool’s best start since Rafael Benitez arrived in 2004, and they travel to the south of France high on confidence.
Once again, Marseille’s situation is similar. They couldn’t quite hold on to claim their first win at Bordeaux in 31 years, but the draw leaves them second in Ligue 1 behind perennial front-runners Olympique Lyon. In other words, it has been a promising start for Eric Gerets’ side as they seek to deny les Gones an eighth consecutive title – just as Liverpool hope to prevent United matching their record of 18 English championships.
Liverpool and Marseille will be sick at the sight of each other by the end of the group stage, having met at the same point of last season’s Champions League. L’OM inflicted a shock defeat on the Reds at Anfield, courtesy of Mathieu Valbuena’s unanswered stunner. But the five-time European champs hit back with a 4-0 win at Stade Velodrome to progress to the knockout rounds – they eventually reached the semi-finals, where they fell to Chelsea – while their hosts were dumped into the UEFA Cup. The fixtures are reversed this time around, but it remains to be seen whether the results will differ.
FORM GUIDE
Marseille
13 Sept v Bordeaux (A) DREW 1-1
30 Aug v Sochaux (H) WON 2-1
27 Aug v SK Brann (H) WON 2-1
23 Aug v Le Havre (A) WON 1-0
17 Aug v Auxerre (H) WON 4-0
Liverpool
13 Sept v Manchester United (H) WON 2-1
31 Aug v Aston Villa (A) DREW 0-0
27 Aug v Standard Liege (H) WON 1-0
23 Aug v Middlesbrough (H) WON 2-1
16 Aug v Sunderland (A) WON 1-0
TEAM NEWS
Marseille
The home side have been buoyed by the return of Mathieu Valbuena, who proved to be Liverpool’s bane at Anfield last season. The 23-year-old midfielder had been battling a groin injury, but he featured against Bordeaux at the weekend and could start on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Hatem Ben Arfa is also hoping to return to the starting XI after sustaining a knee knock during training recently. The France winger, like Valbuena, managed a late substitute appearance at the weekend and is likely to feature in some capacity agains the Reds. Karim Ziani remains an option for the left, however, while Bolo Zenden is on standby to line up against his old club.
Coach Gerets employed something resembling a diamond midfield at Bordeaux, with Benoit Cheyrou and Charles Kabore playing box-to-box roles on the flanks. That shape may well be ditched for a 4-2-3-1 with captain Lorik Cana returning in a holding role alongside either Cheyrou or Modeste M’bami.
Possible Line-Up: Mandanda – Bonnart, Hilton, Zubar, Taiwo – Cana, Cheyrou or M’bami – Kone, Valbuena or Ziani, Ben Arfa – Niang
Liverpool
All the speculation surrounding Liverpool ahead of this clash concerns the fitness of Steven Gerrard (groin) and Fernando Torres (hamstring). The pair were left out of the starting XI against the Red Devils at the weekend, Gerrard coming on halfway through the second period while Torres sat out altogether. Both were expected to be fit for the trip to France but rumours have sprung up that they could be left out of the squad entirely.
That would leave Benitez in something of a pickle given Javier Mascherano pulled up with a calf complaint late in the United game. Either of Damien Plessis and Lucas Leiva may thus be given an opportunity in midfield beside Xabi Alonso, while David N’Gog or Ryan Babel could start up front (or both, if the somewhat out-of-touch Robbie Keane gets dropped).
Sami Hyypia’s surprise exclusion from the Champions League roster means Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger are left to fight for a place beside Jamie Carragher in central defence, while Andrea Dossena and Fabio Aurelio will battle for the left-back slot. Albert Reira, who impressed on debut at the weekend, is a possibility to retain his place on the left wing, while Dirk Kuyt is likely to line up on the right.
The formation will depend on who is available. While it would be a surprise if Benitez made any significant changes from the side that defeated the English and European champions, if Gerrard and Torres are fit then the system may have to be shifted to accommodate them.
Possible Line-Up: Reina – Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Dossena – Mascherano, Alonso – Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel – Torres
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Marseille
Bakary Kone comes into the clash in good form after scoring in the first minute against Bordeaux. The Ivorian forward was one of Marseille’s star recruits during the summer and has settled well at his new club, showing promise both on the right and up front. Taye Taiwo is another one to keep an eye on, inasmuch as the Nigerian full-back’s attacking instincts mean both sides are likely to get some joy down Marseille’s left flank.
Liverpool
As mentioned earlier, it’s a matter of who plays for the Reds. If Gerrard and Torres start, then they are the obvious drawcards. If the skipper sits out, expect Xabi Alonso to see an awful lot of the ball. The Basque playmaker has been in excellent form of late, as evidenced by his dominant performance against United at the weekend. Alonso’s craft paired with Mascherano’s graft seems a winning combo, and it makes one wonder why Benitez was so eager to sell his compatriot over the summer.
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