Rafa Benitez calls for an Anfield roar to see Liverpool through

Apr 8 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Rafa Benitez and Steven Gerrard

RAFAEL BENITEZ has urged a raucous Anfield to roar Liverpool into the Champions League semi-finals this evening – and help expose the Arsenal myth in the process.

The two teams meet for the third time in seven days this evening for the return leg of their quarter-final tie.

Dirk Kuyt’s precious away goal earned Benitez’s side a 1-1 draw at the Emirates last Wednesday.

While a clean sheet would be enough for Liverpool to progress, the Spaniard has reiterated he has no intention of playing for a goalless draw with Arsenal having only failed to score in four of their 26 away games this season.

And Benitez believes the Anfield factor can make the difference as Liverpool aim for a ninth European Cup semi-final appearance.

“Arsenal know we are on a good run now, we are playing well,” said Benitez. “But clearly you can see the mood between the players, the mood and the atmosphere and the confidence. It’s a good moment.

“But also I have told them be careful, Arsenal are a good team and usually score away goals so when people have been talking about us being favourites, I don’t think that is the case.

“We need to win. I’m not thinking ‘0-0, fantastic’. At the end, I might say ‘fantastic’, but we need to score and win.

“The only advantage we have is that we are playing at Anfield with our supporters. We have confidence we can win.

“You could feel the atmosphere against Chelsea in the semi-final last season, and I expect that to be the same this time. Our fans can also hold the key.

“It is easy to say that you do not have any problems with big crowds in away games of this importance. But when you have to face our fans for 90 minutes, then it is not easy for the majority of players.

“Arsenal have been here before. But the difference is the Champions League, it’s knock-out now and that is the difference.”

A much-changed Liverpool held Arsenal to a second successive 1-1 draw at the Emirates in the Premier League on Saturday and extended their run of form to just one defeat in 11.

By contrast, the Gunners have won only two games in the same timescale, losing ground on both Manchester United and Chelsea in the race for the championship.

It means the Champions League is now the most realistic route to silverware for both clubs this season.

Despite their league challenge floundering miserably in recent weeks, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger continues to avoid any serious criticism of his reign given his team’s perceived rawness and youth.

But, with the Londoners reaching the Champions League final two years ago, the Carling Cup final last year and regularly competing at the top of the table, Benitez laughed off the idea Arsenal remain inexperienced at the highest level.

“Arsenal have enough experienced players in the squad,” said the Anfield manager. “They know what it means to be under pressure.

“I think two or three years ago I could agree with the fact maybe they are a young team but Fabregas now has four years at the top level, Flamini, Toure the same.

“Adebayor and others have played in the African Cup of Nations so they have experience of playing in massive competitions.

“Almunia is not young, Toure is not young, Hleb is not young.

“They have enough experience in the squad and enough good players. You can talk about Fabregas being 20, but he has played four years at the maximum level.

“They played a final two years and they have enough experience in this competition because they have been playing in the knockout stage for a long time.

“Okay, it is easy to talk about young players, but I think they have enough experience.”

Jermaine Pennant suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday to join Daniel Agger (foot) and Harry Kewell (groin) on the sidelines.

Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso, Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio all return after being rested at the weekend, while Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will step up from the bench.

Benitez’s only decision is whether to retain Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel at centre-back with Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back, or field the same team as last week’s first leg with Carragher on the right and Sami Hyypia partnering Skrtel in central defence.

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Aurelio; Mascherano, Alonso; Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel; Torres.

ARSENAL (4-4-1-1): Almunia; Toure, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy; Eboue, Fabregas, Flamini, Diaby; Hleb; Adebayor.

TONIGHT’S officials are from Sweden, with Peter Frojfeldt the referee.