Liverpool Vs Benfica Preview « Football Blog – Football News

With the Reds’ chances of finishing fourth in the Premier League diminishing by the day, nothing but a win will do today.



Benfica carry a 2-1 first leg lead into tonight’s game at Anfield, after two penalties from Oscar Cardozo turned the game around in Portugal.

Liverpool’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season are hanging by a thread after they dropped two more points at the weekend against Birmingham. Captain Steven Gerrard said after the game that it would be “tough to finish fourth”.

Rafa Benitez inexplicably brought off Fernando Torres in that game, presumably the only reason being this Europa League game. Benitez’s future at Liverpool may largely rest on this match, as no trophies and no fourth spot will almost certainly mean there will be somebody new at the helm next season.

In the previous stage of the competition, the Reds turned around a 1-0 first-leg deficit against LOSC Lille and went through 3-1 on aggregate.

Ryan Babel received a dubious red-card in the first leg, ruling him out of tonight’s game.

Left-back Emiliano Insua is also out through suspension.

Benitez conceded today that he agreed that new players need to be signed in the summer to start the rebuilding process at the club.

In his pre-match press conference, the Spanaird said, “I agree that we need to sign some players, we need some money, we need some new investors, and then we can challenge in a better way. The players are working so hard, they cannot do anymore. If we don’t have a new investor, it will be difficult to go forward, to progress.”

Benitez also pointed out Liverpool’s impressive home form. They have now won their last 8 games at Anfield, and the fans will certainly be hoping their men will make it 9.

Benfica are all set to name an unchanged squad to the one that played in the first leg, with winger Angel Di Maria being the major threat.

The winners of this tie will take on the winners of the all-Spanish quarterfinal between Athletico Madrid and Valencia. After the first leg at the Mestalla in Valencia, the score stands at 2-2. Athletico will be favourites to go through in that one, and if Liverpool do progress, it will mean Liverpool star man Ferenado Torres facing his former club.

In the other two quarter-finals, Premier League side Fulham take a 2-1 lead to Germany to face Wolfsburg, while Hamburg take a 2-1 lead to Belgium to face Standard Liege.

Source: Liverpool Vs Benfica Preview « Football Blog – Football News

Source: Football Blog