Sunday, December 07, 2008

Rafa Looks Set To Ring The Champions League Changes As Liverpool Look Forward To Last 16


Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will make major changes for the side's final Champions League group D match in Holland next week and will not rule out resting his top stars.

Liverpool, already assured of a place in the last 16, have the luxury of being able to use several squad players when they face PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.

The match is still hugely significant for PSV as they fight for the win which could see them qualify for the UEFA Cup by finishing in third spot, pipping Marseille to that objective.

The Dutch champions lie bottom of the group, level on three points with Marseille but behind the Ligue 1 club on the head-to-head record.

This means that to leapfrog Marseille they must better the French team's result against Atletico Madrid.

For Liverpool to win group D, and then secure a knockout phase opponent who finished runners-up in their own group, they must either better their Spanish rivals' result in Marseille, or - if the sides secure the same outcome - record a better scoreline to overturn their present one-goal deficit.

Benitez knows he can shuffle his pack - and that means he could leave out the likes of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt, Jose Reina and Alvaro Arbeloa.

Brazilian youngster Lucas, Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun, David Ngog and goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri could all start, while Benitez may even gamble on rookie reserves Stephen Darby and Jay Spearing.

Four of the 25 named for the group stages are injured - Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio and Philipp Degen - so Benitez does not have much room to manoeuvre.

The Spaniard said: "It is difficult to say now who will play in Eindhoven, but it is clear that we will be making several changes.

"But we will probably take most of the senior players because of the prospect of injuries.

"The players are involved in more matches these days. (Dirk) Kuyt, Carragher and Arbeloa have all played a lot of games this season.

"But we have to send out a squad with four local players because of the regulations, so that does not make it easy.

"We cannot obviously, use young players who are not on the list registered for the tournament, so we are limited in making many changes.

"But Lucas will be involved. People have criticised him recently but he has been working so hard, he is the kind of player with a great character who will become very important for us.

"There is still a lot on the match itself. It is still important for PSV and Marseille to get points to get into the UEFA Cup.

"But it will be difficult for Marseille against Atletico because the their opponents are very good on the counter-attack and dangerous.

"And PSV also need to win, so they will make it very difficult for us. They have ability, pace and they are playing at home."

It is debatable whether it will benefit Liverpool in the draw for the next stage if they finish top.

Benitez said: "It is difficult to know whether you want to finish first or second in the group.

"We cannot play an English side in the last 16, so that reduces the options.

"Looking at the groups we could finish top and still end up playing against Juventus or Real Madrid, it is also possible to face Lyon or Bayern Munich so it is very difficult to decide who you would rather play next.

"The best thing about winning the group is that you play the second leg of the next round at Anfield, which is very important for us."

PSV need one point to avoid registering their worst haul at this stage of the Champions League.

In a run of 11 successive seasons of competing in the group stage they have never managed fewer than four points - their total in the 1999-2000 campaign. Liverpool, by contrast, will record their highest points total in the group stage if they win in the Philips Stadion.

PSV are still seeking a first win against Liverpool at the sixth attempt. Liverpool can take further encouragement from an unbeaten away record in this season's competition - plus the fact they have lost just once in 11 previous encounters with Dutch clubs.

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