[Liverweb] Benfica Match Preview

Liverweb Match Preview

Opponents : Benfica - Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg
Date : Wednesday March 8 @ 19.45 GMT
Venue : Anfield
TV Coverage : Sky Sports Xtra, Premiere Sport Portal, ART Sport 2,
RTP1, Sport TV, Supersport 6, Supersport 8SA, NTV+ On-line, RTE Two,
C+ Deporte 1, Kiosque 4 (ppv), Polsat Sport Extra, Sky Calcio 10,
Supersport 2, TV3 Norway, Viasat Sport 1 SE, ART Sport 5

Reds versus Portugese Teams - Portugese Ltrack Files
The Reds come in to this crucial second leg on the back of a
frustrating 0-0 draw with Charlton at the weekend.

Benfica won 2-1 away at Estrela Amadora at the weekend and lie third
in their domestic league

Squads : Jan Kromkamp and Dan Agger are ineligible after playing for
their respective sides earlier in the competition. Sami Hyypia is a
slight doubt after picking up a hamstring injury against Charlton
although is expected to play.

Team Stats : This is the fourth time the Reds have been drawn
against Benfica in this competition. The Reds have always beaten
Benfica and made the final before now. On two of those three
occassions they also lifted the trophy.

The Reds have won the top European trophy 5 times and of course
after last May's triumph the trophy remains at Anfield. Our
opponents won the trophy twice back at the starts of the 1960's.

The last major first leg turnaround for the Reds was Auxerre in 1991
when they turned round a 2-0 first leg deficit. More recently and
Olympiakos the Reds were in this same state as now though. Win by
two clear goals to go through. Last season they did that and went on
to lift the trophy.

Of eleven home games played on a Wednesday so far the Reds have won
six, drawn four and lost just the once.

The Reds have a good home record against sides from Portugal. Only
Boavista in 2001 have got anything from a game at Anfield.

From six previous game at Anfield against Portugese sides the Reds
have scored 14 goals and conceded just five. In the three games
against Benfica in the past they have won all three, scoring 8 goals
and conceding just two in the process.

Player Stats : If Sami Hyypia starts this match it wil be his 50th
start for the Reds. It would also be his 50th appearance if he plays
any part of the game.

Should Djimi Traore start this one it will be his 20th Champions
League start.

Fernando Morientes is looking to play his 10th CL game for the Reds.
In all competitions for the Reds Morientes has nine goals so far.

Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia, Jose Reina and Dietmar Hamann are all one
booking away from a suspension.

Any appearance for Steven Gerrard will draw him level with Chris
Lawler in ninth place of the all time European appearances list with
66 games. If Gerrard scored once he would go joint third on the all
time european scoring charts with Roger Hunt.

Harry Kewell has arrived as a sub nine times in Europe for the Reds.
Each one has come in the Champions League.

Djibril Cisse needs one goal for ten in Europe for the Reds.

Referee : Massimo De Santis (ITA) - took charge of the Reds' home
stalemate with Chelsea earlier this season. This season the Italian
referee from Rome has taken charge of 2 other group stage matches.
One was another no score draw and the other was a 3-0 home win for
Lyon.

Betting : Liverpool 2/5, Benfica 6/1, Draw : 11/4

To go through this tie : Liverpool 8/11, Benfica Evens

Tournament Odds : Liverpool 14/1, Benfica 33/1

Liverweb Prediction : Liverpool 3 Benfica 0

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