billabong12
11th-December-2007, 07:56 PM
Champions League Group A
Group A news
Last season's finalist Liverpool risks being dumped out of the group stages if they suffer a defeat at Marseille. Till the last match, the group A standings are still very open with all teams still holding a chance to qualify. With Porto and Marseille currently occupying the first two places with 8 and 7 points respectively. Liverpool are third even though they had a better goal difference and similar points, but its the away goal that counts in the champions league. Bottom place Besiktas only had 6 points but still stand a chance to qualify.
Marseille news
Marseille won 2 - 0 at home to Monaco at Ligue 1 3 days ago. Marseille's perfomance at the home in the Champions League this season were a 2 - 0 win against Besiktas, followed by a 1 - 1 draw against FC Porto.
Striker Djibril Cisse and midfielder Boudewijn Zenden who both left Liverpool to join Marseille last summer will be likely to feature against their old side. Djibril Cisse will be hoping to dumped his former team out of the competition as a sort of a "revenge" after his troubled spell at the Anfield with him falling out favour under Rafael Benitez. Midfield Playermaker Samir Nasri could return on Tuesday after spending half a month at the sidelines.
The last time Marseille hosted Liverpool in a european match was at March 2004 where they won 2 - 1.
Liverpool news
Liverpool suffered their first league defeat after going down 3 - 1 to Reading and will definitely have to put that aside and keep a positive mindset when facing Marseille for the qualifying decider.
Star striker Fernando Torres came off with a knock in the first half of Saturday's Premier League defeat to Reading is fit to play but Liverpool will still be missing defender Daniel Agger and midfielder Xabi Alonso. Benitez will be most likely to play an attacking formation so as to get a positive result and qualify for the knock-out phase.
Harry Kewell and Ryan Babel seems set to start at the flanks, Benitez might start with 2 strikers upfront, Peter Crouch or Andriy Voronin partnering Fernando Torres. Captain Steven Gerrard was brought off at the 71st minute during the Reading match, will have an even heavier role to play with the team looking into him for inspiration from midfield.
The next 3 matches for Liverpool will be very tough with a Champions League qualifying decider followed by matches against Manchester United and Chelsea at the Premier League.
Therefore. . .
Take Liverpool to keep their nerves cool and perform under pressure. They are a top team whenever at Uefa Champions League the past few years qualifying for the Finals twice.
Liverpool - 0.5
Group A news
Last season's finalist Liverpool risks being dumped out of the group stages if they suffer a defeat at Marseille. Till the last match, the group A standings are still very open with all teams still holding a chance to qualify. With Porto and Marseille currently occupying the first two places with 8 and 7 points respectively. Liverpool are third even though they had a better goal difference and similar points, but its the away goal that counts in the champions league. Bottom place Besiktas only had 6 points but still stand a chance to qualify.
Marseille news
Marseille won 2 - 0 at home to Monaco at Ligue 1 3 days ago. Marseille's perfomance at the home in the Champions League this season were a 2 - 0 win against Besiktas, followed by a 1 - 1 draw against FC Porto.
Striker Djibril Cisse and midfielder Boudewijn Zenden who both left Liverpool to join Marseille last summer will be likely to feature against their old side. Djibril Cisse will be hoping to dumped his former team out of the competition as a sort of a "revenge" after his troubled spell at the Anfield with him falling out favour under Rafael Benitez. Midfield Playermaker Samir Nasri could return on Tuesday after spending half a month at the sidelines.
The last time Marseille hosted Liverpool in a european match was at March 2004 where they won 2 - 1.
Liverpool news
Liverpool suffered their first league defeat after going down 3 - 1 to Reading and will definitely have to put that aside and keep a positive mindset when facing Marseille for the qualifying decider.
Star striker Fernando Torres came off with a knock in the first half of Saturday's Premier League defeat to Reading is fit to play but Liverpool will still be missing defender Daniel Agger and midfielder Xabi Alonso. Benitez will be most likely to play an attacking formation so as to get a positive result and qualify for the knock-out phase.
Harry Kewell and Ryan Babel seems set to start at the flanks, Benitez might start with 2 strikers upfront, Peter Crouch or Andriy Voronin partnering Fernando Torres. Captain Steven Gerrard was brought off at the 71st minute during the Reading match, will have an even heavier role to play with the team looking into him for inspiration from midfield.
The next 3 matches for Liverpool will be very tough with a Champions League qualifying decider followed by matches against Manchester United and Chelsea at the Premier League.
Therefore. . .
Take Liverpool to keep their nerves cool and perform under pressure. They are a top team whenever at Uefa Champions League the past few years qualifying for the Finals twice.
Liverpool - 0.5