Roaring Reds vow to be Lisbon Lions
The last two times that teams from Merseyside have visited Benfica’s Estádio da Luz, it hasn’t exactly gone to plan.
Everton were humbled there 5-0 earlier this season, as the likes of Javier Saviola, Ángel Di María, Óscar Cardozo and Pablo Aimar ran riot for the Lisbon club against David Moyes’ men. They scored five, but they could have scored five more.
Liverpool’s last visit was four years ago. Reigning European champions, they were heavy favourites to overcome the test of the Portuguese in the second round of the Champions League. Starting with a front two of Robbie Fowler and Fernando Morientes, the Reds lost Mohamed Sissoko to a horrific eye injury in the first half, and lost the game when defender Luisão headed home a late free-kick.
They would lose the second leg at Anfield 2-0, exiting European football’s premier competition at a surprisingly early stage, the earliest they’d experienced under Rafael Benitez until this season, when a group-stage exit prompted howls of derision from the manager’s many detractors. There was always the consolation prize of the Europa League though, and make no mistake, Liverpool are desperate to win that.
The omens are on their side too. When the Reds last won the competition in 2001 they beat a Portuguese team – Porto – in the quarter-finals, a Spanish one – Barcelona – in the semis, before winning the final in Dortmund, Germany. This season, if they beat Benfica they’ll face either Valencia or Atlético Madrid next, with a win there sending them to a final in the German city of Hamburg. Steven Gerrard – who scored Liverpool’s second goal in that epic 5-4 final win over Alavés in 2001 – is well aware of the signs, but believes a more recent omen could prove more important.
“What you saw on Sunday was the eleven players who the manager picked to start all click and hit form at the same time,” said the Liverpool captain of Sunday’s 3-0 win over Sunderland, probably Liverpool’s best performance of the season.
“When something like that happens, that's when the magic occurs and the end result is a performance as good as the one we produced.”
Whether or not the magic will occur tonight is doubtful, with Benitez and Liverpool likely to refer to their tried and tested cautious approach in European away matches, as much out of respect for Benfica’s explosive attacking talents as anything.
Alberto Aquilani’s injury – three words used far too often this season – have probably ended all hopes of Gerrard remaining in the centre of the Liverpool midfield, that is unless the manager decides to utilise Lucas Leiva in the same attacking role he was deployed in against Lille in the last round. Maxi Rodriguez’s ineligibility means that Sunday’s winning team will have to be broken up.
Whether the rhythm and attacking verve shown on Sunday is broken up too will be discovered tonight, as Liverpool will no doubt be mindful of the attacking talents at the disposal of their hosts. It is their own forward-thinking stars who they’ll hope will shine though, as the Portuguese could be particularly vulnerable in wide areas, positions that the Reds have struggled to penetrate on their European away days this season.
In the Estádio da Luz they release an eagle prior to kick off. It circles the stadium before returning to its keeper on the side of the pitch.
If Liverpool want to prolong their European ambitions this season, they’ll hope it’s not the only skilful use of wings on the night.
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