Bolo Zenden backs Benitez’s side to win league title

Oct 3 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

BOLO ZENDEN will aim to undermine Liverpool’s Champions League prospects this evening – but has backed Rafael Benitez to bring the Premier League title to Anfield.

The Dutchman returns to his former club with Marseille for their Group A encounter.

Zenden spent two years at Liverpool and helped Benitez’s side to the European Cup final last season before moving to the Stade Velodrome in the summer.

And the 31-year-old midfielder reckons the present squad at Anfield is now capable of ending a championship drought that stretches back to 1990.

“When I arrived at Liverpool two years ago everyone was talking about the Rafalution,” said Zenden. “The manager’s work is still ongoing there but it is just a matter of time until everything fits into place. To get to two Champions League finals in three years is an incredible achievement. Then there is the FA Cup and Super Cup. It is very difficult to win the Premier League but having worked with Rafa and the players at Liverpool I see no reason why that cannot be achieved too.”

Marseille have won only once in the French league this season, a sequence which cost Albert Emon his job. However, they won their opening Champions League group game at home to Besiktas and visit Anfield under the tutelage of new coach Erik Gerets.

And Zenden said: “Things can always turn around in football. A win at Anfield could start that process for us but we know it is never easy there. I didn’t get the chance to say thank you to the fans before I let so it will be an opportunity to say hello and goodbye.”

Meanwhile new Marseille coach Erik Gerets hopes ex-Liverpool stars Djibril Cisse and Zenden have been able to provide vital information ahead of his side’s Champions League clash at Anfield tonight.

Gerets only took over last month and the Group A game will be his first in charge of the struggling French league runners-up.

Marseille have managed just one domestic victory this season, although they did beat Besiktas 2-0 in their opening group match.

Gerets said: “It is important that we have two former Liverpool players in our squad, and I hope the things they have told me about Liverpool are right, otherwise they will be in for a big punishment!

“We have talked about Liverpool and both of them have been able to produce interesting information.”

Cisse is not certain to play however, Gerets adding: “He was injured earlier in the week and has only been able to train once, I hope he will be okay for the match, we will have to wait and see.”

For Gerets, it is also a return to a stadium he knows well. He was manager of Galatasaray last season and has a win and defeat against the Merseysiders to his name.