CONFIDENT Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool can thrive on the pressure of keeping their Champions League dream alive this evening.

The Anfield outfit take on Marseille in France knowing that only victory at the Stade Velodrome will guarantee a place in the knockout stages of the competition.

Liverpool stand to miss out on a minimum of £14million in prize money and gate receipts if they fail to qualify for the last 16.

But Benitez is convinced the experience his players have accrued in big games during his tenure will help ensure their progress at the expense of their French hosts.

“We know how to play under pressure, not only in the Champions League but we won the cup,” said the Anfield manager. “It’s difficult, but if you want to win trophies you have to play finals, and for us this is a final.

“Nothing changes for us. We try to win every game. It’s the same idea as against Olympiakos, as in the FA Cup final or any other of our finals.

“I have said 100 times that we have enough experience in these kind of games. If you fight for winning trophies then you must be under pressure a little bit, it’s normal. This is the same pressure as another important game.”

Tonight is the start of a potentially pivotal few days for Benitez and his team, with the manager scheduled to meet American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks ahead of Sunday’s visit of champions Manchester United.

But the manager was in defiant mood when pressed on the significance of this period, and said: “It’s an important week but I heard the same question two months ago and a month ago, and I was surprised because we were unbeaten in the league at the time. Now we have lost one game, the same as Arsenal, and everybody starts again.”

The tight situation in Group A, with all four teams still able to qualify and indeed top the group, means even a draw may be enough for Liverpool.

That result would suffice if Besiktas win at Porto in tonight’s other Group A game, which would mean the Turks topping the group on nine points and Porto, Liverpool and Marseille all on eight points with the Anfield outfit progressing with a better head-to-head record.

If Porto and Liverpool win then they both qualify in that order, while Benitez’s side can finish first if they win and Porto fail to defeat Besiktas.

In contrast, a draw for Liverpool and a positive result for Porto would consign the Merseysiders to the UEFA Cup, while even that consolation would be taken from them if Marseille and Besiktas both win.

Dirk Kuyt, Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun and Sami Hyypia are poised for a return to the starting line-up as Benitez selects a full-strength team .

Momo Sissoko and Andriy Voronin, who both appeared at the Madejski Stadium, didn’t travel with the team yesterday morning while Daniel Agger, Xabi Alonso and Jermaine Pennant remain sidelined. Alonso could be available for the Carling Cup tie at Chelsea next Wednesday, with Agger in line for a return against Portsmouth three days later.

TONIGHT’S officials are from Norway, with Terje Hauge the referee.