Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was upbeat about the Reds’ chances going into Thursday’s Europa League clash with Benfica having seen the successful return from injury of Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson.
The Europa League represents Liverpool’s only remaining chance of silverware this season. They go into the quarter-final clash with Portuguese giants Benfica having beaten Sunderland 3-0 with goals from Torres and Johnson who have only recently returned from a spell on the sidelines.
With captain Steven Gerrard also coming back to form after a spell out, Benitez is happy with his options.
The Spanish boss said, "If they can stay fit I think it will be very important because you have more options,
"When you have two games a week it is important to have different players available so you can change the system and you can keep the tempo.
"It is really important to have Fernando, Gerrard and Maxi available.”
Focusing in particular on Liverpool's scorers against Sunderland, Benitez continued, "I can see Fernando is focused and he wants to do well. We are surprised sometimes by what he can do but my idea is that he can improve.
"He knows how to get better. Two goals and a great performance again against Sunderland is what the team needed.
"Johnson is an attacking defender and sometimes when you have the team playing well at home and everyone is going forward he can be a real threat.
"He had one or two chances against Sunderland and he was very dangerous down the right side."
The Europa League represents Liverpool’s only remaining chance of silverware this season. They go into the quarter-final clash with Portuguese giants Benfica having beaten Sunderland 3-0 with goals from Torres and Johnson who have only recently returned from a spell on the sidelines.
With captain Steven Gerrard also coming back to form after a spell out, Benitez is happy with his options.
The Spanish boss said, "If they can stay fit I think it will be very important because you have more options,
"When you have two games a week it is important to have different players available so you can change the system and you can keep the tempo.
"It is really important to have Fernando, Gerrard and Maxi available.”
Focusing in particular on Liverpool's scorers against Sunderland, Benitez continued, "I can see Fernando is focused and he wants to do well. We are surprised sometimes by what he can do but my idea is that he can improve.
"He knows how to get better. Two goals and a great performance again against Sunderland is what the team needed.
"Johnson is an attacking defender and sometimes when you have the team playing well at home and everyone is going forward he can be a real threat.
"He had one or two chances against Sunderland and he was very dangerous down the right side."
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