Few managers can have enjoyed as much success in European competition as Liverpool boss Rafael Benítez. With Valencia, Benítez won a UEFA Cup, a triumph that would be pushed into the shade by his current side’s remarkable Champions League triumph in 2004/05. While the Reds could not quite match this achievement two seasons later, falling at the final hurdle, it is an impressive achievement to have taken a side few would have considered in the top two in Europe, to such a level.
As the Anfield club chase a hat-trick of finals, the obstacle of qualifying from Group D can be cleared on Wednesday night. All that is required is that Liverpool draw with Olympique de Marseille – failing that, a point against PSV Eindhoven in a fortnight would be enough to secure a berth in the last 16.
Progress has rarely been so smooth for Benítez and co, who have been, so far, relatively steady performers.
Of course, no Champions League campaign for the Reds would be complete without some kind of Steven Gerrard-inspired drama – whether his drive into the box a massive five minutes into stoppage-time against Atlético Madrid at Anfield, which proved the catalyst for an equalising penalty, was heroic or simply villainous is very much a matter for debate.
That point leaves Benítez’s side on the brink of qualification. A draw in Spain against Atlético coupled with victories over PSV and Marseille, have seen Liverpool enjoy an unbeaten run in the group stage that stretches back to last season and an impressive home European record that stands at eight games.
The last team to beat them at home Europe? Marseille – and the Frenchmen were certainly in a more beat-up state when they shocked the Kop by winning 1-0 in September 2007.
But Liverpool were also in a period of uneasy transition as Mathieu Valbuena’s stunning strike provided a rare moment of silence on a European night at the usually raucous Merseyside venue.
Joint top of the English Premier League, Liverpool should have confidence and swagger about their play on Wednesday evening, although this was not evident as they were held to a scoreless draw by Fulham on Saturday.
Goals should not be overly difficult to come by against a porous Marseille side. If Liverpool were to find the net just twice against the Provence club, they would reach a tally of 300 European goals.
His defence is certainly going to be the first port of call for Eric Gerets ahead of this fixture, as it has been nothing short of abysmal this season. Title rivals, Olympique Lyonnais, had their rearguard questioned earlier this season but they have conceded just ten goals in their 15 Ligue 1 matches in comparison to l’OM’s 20.
It is not just the quantity of goals that are being lost by Marseille that is worrying; it is also the manner in which they are being leaked. Take, for example, Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Lille, in which les Phocéens trailed by two goals at the interval.
Both goals came from set-plays that the defence could have coped better with. Goalkeeper Steve Mandanda should have been more positive with Michel Bastos’ (admittedly) vicious corner that provided Adil Rami with a platform to thump home a near-post header, while Lille’s second goal was a laughable breakdown in communication between goalkeeper and central defender Ronald Zubar.
If the Stade Vélodrome club continue to protect their goal in such a suicidal manner, Liverpool could well threaten the 8-0 triumph they inflicted upon Beşiktaş in Matchday 4 last season.
Thankfully from Gerets’ point of view, he can call upon the most prolific striking force in France. Generally deploying a front-three of Mamadou Niang, Hatem Ben Arfa and Bakari Koné in Ligue 1, the trio have managed 17 goals and eight assists between them.
All three are likely to be deployed at Anfield, albeit in a set-up considerably more defensive than they may be used to in league play. Ben Arfa and Koné will be asked to play wide roles, with Niang the hold-up man in attack.
Marseille will remain focused on this game as it could provide a route into the UEFA Cup, a competition they were only knocked out of last season by eventual winners, Zenit St. Petersborg, and even then, OM lost only on away goals.
Gerets’ side hold the upper-hand on PSV Eindhoven at present. Both sides only have three points but Marseille are better off due to their 3-2 aggregate success over the Dutchmen.
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Benítez will not necessarily be able to call upon the services of key midfielder Steven Gerrard for this fixture. The England international, who scored twice as Liverpool recorded a somewhat fortuitous victory over Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome on Matchday 1, has a groin problem but the Liverpool manager expects to have his captain available.
Also missing will be Philipp Degen and Martin Škrtel, who have metatarsal and knee problems, respectively.
Liverpool’s attacking options are widened by the return of Robbie Keane from injury. The Irishman, who has scored twice in four Champions League matches, had been suffering from a shoulder problem but returned to action last weekend.
Possible Starting XI: Reina; Agger, Arbeloa, Aurélio, Carragher; Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Riera, Kuyt; Torres
Marseille
Gerets is boosted by the news that he will have virtually a full squad of players to select from in this encounter. Modeste M’Bami continues to miss out in the centre of the field while Algerian international El Amine Erbate is again sidelined. Squad player Renato Civelli is also missing.
Interestingly, all of the starting eleven who played against Liverpool in the 1-0 success at Anfield are still at the club. Indeed, only Gael Givet – frozen out of the first team – does not make the squad. Julien Rodriguez is making tentative steps back from injury and is not likely to be included in the starting eleven.
Mathieu Valbuena had been expected to be an absentee but last season’s match-winner is in l’OM’s squad of 19 to travel. Englishman Tyrone Mears, still looking for his debut since joining on loan from Derby County in August, makes a long-awaited return from a knee problem. Neither of these players is expected to feature – there would certainly be an issue if Mears was to play as he is not registered for the competition!
Possible Starting XI: Mandanda; Bonnart, Taiwo, Zubar, Hilton; Cana, Cheyrou, Kaboré, Koné, Ben Arfa; Niang
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
22/11/08 D 0-0 vs. Fulham (h) Premier League
15/11/08 W 2-0 vs. Bolton Wanderers (a) Premier League
12/11/08 L 0-4 vs. Tottenham Hotspur (a) Carling Cup
08/11/08 W 3-0 vs. West Bromwich Albion (h) Premier League
04/11/08 D 1-1 vs. Atlético Madrid (a) Champions League
01/11/08 L 1-2 vs. Tottenham Hotspur (a) Premier League
Marseille
23/11/08 D 2-2 vs. Lille OSC (h) Ligue 1
15/11/08 L 2-3 vs. FC Lorient (h) Ligue 1
08/11/08 W 3-0 vs. Grenoble Foot38 (a) Ligue 1
04/11/08 W 3-0 vs. PSV Eindhoven (h) Champions League
01/11/08 W 3-1 vs. AS Saint-Étienne (h) Ligue 1
29/10/08 D 1-1 vs. FC Nantes (a) Ligue 1
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool
With the potential absence of Gerrard, striker Fernando Torres has to be the man to watch. Possessing electric pace and an eye for goal bettered by only a hanful of players in the world, even the meanest of defences have a hard time pinning the Spaniard down.
Against Marseille’s ramshackle back four, expected Torres to open his goal scoring account for this season’s competition.
Marseille
Les Phocéens have a number of dangerous attacking threats. Although many eyes will be fixed upon the potentially devastating presence of Hatem Ben Arfa, striker Mamadou Niang is Marseille’s most consistent offensive producer.
Five goals and the same number of assists in Ligue 1 represent a fine start to the season for the Senegalese star, who has also registered three goals in this season’s Champions League.
As the Anfield club chase a hat-trick of finals, the obstacle of qualifying from Group D can be cleared on Wednesday night. All that is required is that Liverpool draw with Olympique de Marseille – failing that, a point against PSV Eindhoven in a fortnight would be enough to secure a berth in the last 16.
Progress has rarely been so smooth for Benítez and co, who have been, so far, relatively steady performers.
Of course, no Champions League campaign for the Reds would be complete without some kind of Steven Gerrard-inspired drama – whether his drive into the box a massive five minutes into stoppage-time against Atlético Madrid at Anfield, which proved the catalyst for an equalising penalty, was heroic or simply villainous is very much a matter for debate.
That point leaves Benítez’s side on the brink of qualification. A draw in Spain against Atlético coupled with victories over PSV and Marseille, have seen Liverpool enjoy an unbeaten run in the group stage that stretches back to last season and an impressive home European record that stands at eight games.
The last team to beat them at home Europe? Marseille – and the Frenchmen were certainly in a more beat-up state when they shocked the Kop by winning 1-0 in September 2007.
But Liverpool were also in a period of uneasy transition as Mathieu Valbuena’s stunning strike provided a rare moment of silence on a European night at the usually raucous Merseyside venue.
Joint top of the English Premier League, Liverpool should have confidence and swagger about their play on Wednesday evening, although this was not evident as they were held to a scoreless draw by Fulham on Saturday.
Goals should not be overly difficult to come by against a porous Marseille side. If Liverpool were to find the net just twice against the Provence club, they would reach a tally of 300 European goals.
His defence is certainly going to be the first port of call for Eric Gerets ahead of this fixture, as it has been nothing short of abysmal this season. Title rivals, Olympique Lyonnais, had their rearguard questioned earlier this season but they have conceded just ten goals in their 15 Ligue 1 matches in comparison to l’OM’s 20.
It is not just the quantity of goals that are being lost by Marseille that is worrying; it is also the manner in which they are being leaked. Take, for example, Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Lille, in which les Phocéens trailed by two goals at the interval.
Both goals came from set-plays that the defence could have coped better with. Goalkeeper Steve Mandanda should have been more positive with Michel Bastos’ (admittedly) vicious corner that provided Adil Rami with a platform to thump home a near-post header, while Lille’s second goal was a laughable breakdown in communication between goalkeeper and central defender Ronald Zubar.
If the Stade Vélodrome club continue to protect their goal in such a suicidal manner, Liverpool could well threaten the 8-0 triumph they inflicted upon Beşiktaş in Matchday 4 last season.
Thankfully from Gerets’ point of view, he can call upon the most prolific striking force in France. Generally deploying a front-three of Mamadou Niang, Hatem Ben Arfa and Bakari Koné in Ligue 1, the trio have managed 17 goals and eight assists between them.
All three are likely to be deployed at Anfield, albeit in a set-up considerably more defensive than they may be used to in league play. Ben Arfa and Koné will be asked to play wide roles, with Niang the hold-up man in attack.
Marseille will remain focused on this game as it could provide a route into the UEFA Cup, a competition they were only knocked out of last season by eventual winners, Zenit St. Petersborg, and even then, OM lost only on away goals.
Gerets’ side hold the upper-hand on PSV Eindhoven at present. Both sides only have three points but Marseille are better off due to their 3-2 aggregate success over the Dutchmen.
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Benítez will not necessarily be able to call upon the services of key midfielder Steven Gerrard for this fixture. The England international, who scored twice as Liverpool recorded a somewhat fortuitous victory over Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome on Matchday 1, has a groin problem but the Liverpool manager expects to have his captain available.
Also missing will be Philipp Degen and Martin Škrtel, who have metatarsal and knee problems, respectively.
Liverpool’s attacking options are widened by the return of Robbie Keane from injury. The Irishman, who has scored twice in four Champions League matches, had been suffering from a shoulder problem but returned to action last weekend.
Possible Starting XI: Reina; Agger, Arbeloa, Aurélio, Carragher; Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Riera, Kuyt; Torres
Marseille
Gerets is boosted by the news that he will have virtually a full squad of players to select from in this encounter. Modeste M’Bami continues to miss out in the centre of the field while Algerian international El Amine Erbate is again sidelined. Squad player Renato Civelli is also missing.
Interestingly, all of the starting eleven who played against Liverpool in the 1-0 success at Anfield are still at the club. Indeed, only Gael Givet – frozen out of the first team – does not make the squad. Julien Rodriguez is making tentative steps back from injury and is not likely to be included in the starting eleven.
Mathieu Valbuena had been expected to be an absentee but last season’s match-winner is in l’OM’s squad of 19 to travel. Englishman Tyrone Mears, still looking for his debut since joining on loan from Derby County in August, makes a long-awaited return from a knee problem. Neither of these players is expected to feature – there would certainly be an issue if Mears was to play as he is not registered for the competition!
Possible Starting XI: Mandanda; Bonnart, Taiwo, Zubar, Hilton; Cana, Cheyrou, Kaboré, Koné, Ben Arfa; Niang
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
22/11/08 D 0-0 vs. Fulham (h) Premier League
15/11/08 W 2-0 vs. Bolton Wanderers (a) Premier League
12/11/08 L 0-4 vs. Tottenham Hotspur (a) Carling Cup
08/11/08 W 3-0 vs. West Bromwich Albion (h) Premier League
04/11/08 D 1-1 vs. Atlético Madrid (a) Champions League
01/11/08 L 1-2 vs. Tottenham Hotspur (a) Premier League
Marseille
23/11/08 D 2-2 vs. Lille OSC (h) Ligue 1
15/11/08 L 2-3 vs. FC Lorient (h) Ligue 1
08/11/08 W 3-0 vs. Grenoble Foot38 (a) Ligue 1
04/11/08 W 3-0 vs. PSV Eindhoven (h) Champions League
01/11/08 W 3-1 vs. AS Saint-Étienne (h) Ligue 1
29/10/08 D 1-1 vs. FC Nantes (a) Ligue 1
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool
With the potential absence of Gerrard, striker Fernando Torres has to be the man to watch. Possessing electric pace and an eye for goal bettered by only a hanful of players in the world, even the meanest of defences have a hard time pinning the Spaniard down.
Against Marseille’s ramshackle back four, expected Torres to open his goal scoring account for this season’s competition.
Marseille
Les Phocéens have a number of dangerous attacking threats. Although many eyes will be fixed upon the potentially devastating presence of Hatem Ben Arfa, striker Mamadou Niang is Marseille’s most consistent offensive producer.
Five goals and the same number of assists in Ligue 1 represent a fine start to the season for the Senegalese star, who has also registered three goals in this season’s Champions League.
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