[lfc-news] Anfield passion can help secure Euro qualification - Post

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Liverpool Daily Post, 25 Nov 2004
Anfield passion can help secure Euro qualification
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post

IN the absence of an established striker it now falls on Anfield to provide
the inspiration to overcome Olympiakos in next month's crucial Champions
League decider.

Rafael Benitez, Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia have all appealed to the Kop
to inspire a reprisal of Liverpool's great European nights when the Group A
leaders arrive on December 8.

Manager and captains past and present believe a passionate crowd can help
expose Olympiakos's travelling weaknesses and propel Liverpool to the
victory that is imperative if they are to reach a knock-out stage worth
£5million.

Benitez has seen his squad ripped apart by injuries, and he will have to
dig ever deeper into the club's resources to find the firepower to defeat
Rivaldo and co.

The 1-0 defeat in Monaco, where the winning goal from Javier Saviola was
preceded by a hand-ball by the Argentinian, has left Liverpool's chances of
reaching the last 16 in the balance.

The equation now dictates that Liverpool must win by 1-0 or by two clear
goals to finish in the top two and avoid dropping into the UEFA Cup.

But despite his fury and events in Monaco and mounting injury crisis
Benitez insists: "It will be difficult but we can do it.

"At Anfield we will have our supporters behind us and the team have played
very well at home. We can achieve anything. We do not seem to be getting
much luck at the moment but we must look forward and find a solution."

And Gerrard backed up his manager, stating: "We can do it at Anfield, with
the fans behind us. It was a bitter blow to lose the way we did in Monaco,
but we can turn that around on our own ground."

Defender Sami Hyypia knows from experience how the intensity of an
all-or-nothing European occasion can bring the best out of Liverpool at
Anfield.

Hyypia was part of the side that defeated Roma 2-0 on the night Gerard
Houllier returned from illness to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions
League in 2002.

Jari Litmanen and Emile Heskey scored the goals that carried Liverpool
through on a wave of emotion and despite lacking such attacking strength
Hyypia is confident of staging a repeat.

"That was an unbelievable night," recalled the Finnish international; "Now
it is up to us to give the fans enjoyment and the result they want again.

"We could have to win by two clear goals and we know it's going to be
difficult. But I remember the Roma game a couple of years ago.

"We were in a similar position then, needing to win by two goals, and came
through that. I am confident we will do it again.

"That was an unforgettable night, one of the best I have ever had as a
Liverpool player. We scored early on and that will be the key against
Olympiakos. We need to get at them quickly and impose ourselves on the match.

"It was an emotional night for everyone against Roma, with Gerard Houllier
coming back after his illness. I remember the atmosphere was incredible.

"When Emile scored, I was close by as he put the ball in the net, and the
stadium just erupted. The crowd definitely helped us and we need to get
them behind us again this time."

However, Hyypia does admit that the lack of attacking options available to
Benitez in the absence of Djibril Cisse, Milan Baros and now Luis Garcia is
a concern.

He added: "At Liverpool, you have to show character. That's what we need to
do again now. Of course the injury situation is unfortunate but we just
have to cope.

"It is a chance for other people to show what they can do. It is an
opportunity for them now.

"It is a worry where the goals are going to come from. We have lost Djibril
Cisse and Milan Baros, and they are our main strikers. If you were to take
any Premiership team and take away their two main goalscorers, then they
would struggle.

"But we need to stick together. It was not a good performance in Monaco,
but there is a big game coming up on Sunday against Arsenal and we have to
learn from this."

Neil Mellor, meanwhile, insists he can solve Liverpool's striking problem
provided he is handed an extended run to adapt to life in the top flight.

The 22-year-old was a surprise inclusion against Monaco on Tuesday and
endured a disappointing night as an isolated lone striker.

He said: "It was frustrating being up front on my own, a hard night's work.
It was unfortunate that it was a handball that decided the game.

"We were holding them, it was comfortable and then the referee does not see
the incident or give us the decision. It changed the game, they win and now
qualification for us is a lot more difficult.

"A point would have been a good result in the circumstances going into the
last match with Olympiakos, and we are very disappointed with the way it
happened. But we are at home now and Anfield can be crucial for us.

"I was delighted that the manager gave me my chance, I would have liked to
see a bit more of the ball and been able to keep it in their half a bit longer.

"It's difficult playing in the Champions League but it was good experience
for me."


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