Benitez calls on players to prove they have desire

EUROPA LEAGUE/Lille v Liverpool:RAFAEL BENITEZ has told his underachieving players to demonstrate "desire" at Lille in northern France this evening as Liverpool strive to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League. "We have to show we're ready to win," added Benitez before his team's first-leg, last-16 tie.

Normally protective of his squad, Liverpool’s manager was stung by Monday’s Premier League defeat at Wigan, which has damaged the Merseysiders’ hopes of a top-four spot and Champions League qualification.

“We are looking for a reaction,” said the Spaniard. “Everyone knows Wigan was a bad performance and a missed opportunity.

“We know it’s sometimes not so easy when you have another game so very quickly, but it can be very positive. Hopefully we’ll react well and show we are a strong side with character. The players realise they have to perform with desire. They know they have to improve. I’ve had conversations with them.”

Liverpool now enjoy scant margin for error at home or abroad, where the aim now is to secure the Europa League trophy. “We don’t have too much room for mistakes, we have to perform now,” said Benitez, who has consulted friends at his former club, Valencia, for information about Lille.

Although Valencia took four points from Lille in the group stage they reported the French side, fifth in Ligue 1, four points behind leaders Bordeaux, to be dangerous opponents. Not for nothing are they known as the Mastiffs.

“Lille are a good team,” Benitez added. “People don’t know too much about them but I’ve spoken to staff from Valencia and they say they have real ability and will give you a difficult game.

“They are good at home, have great motivation and this is an important competition for them. That makes them even more dangerous.”

The Spaniard clearly feels attack may be his side’s best form of defence. “We cannot be like we were at Wigan, we have to go out to score,” he said.

Liverpool’s overlapping potential from full back should be enhanced as Glen Johnson is likely to make a first start following recovery from injury. Yossi Benayoun, though, is doubtful with the ankle problem sustained at Wigan.

With Lille aiming to mark their first meeting against Liverpool by reaching the quarter-finals of a European competition for the first time, Johnson and company will need to be mindful of Yao Gervinho, the much-admired Ivory Coast striker.

If Gervinho’s future is excitingly uncertain, Liverpool are tired of endless talk about debt and a potential change of ownership at Anfield .

“We have had in the past a situation that wasn’t very clear,” said Benitez, clearly fed up with the enduring impasse.

“Now we have to do the same as we did then. We need to stick together and work hard. We have to concentrate on things on the pitch.

“We talk about investors, we talk about the new stadium, we talk about all these same things for maybe one or two years now. Everybody is waiting for something to happen and expecting something to happen.

“When I decided to stay I decided to fight and the best for the club is for me to be concentrated on football and to try to get the best from the players.”

“That’s something I can do, and something I have to do for the fans. Inside the club, I will talk to the people who have a responsibility and we will try to do our best.”

The Football Association in England has confirmed Steven Gerrard will face no action following allegations the midfielder made a V sign towards referee Andre Marriner during the defeat at Wigan.

Juventus v Fulham

FULHAM will be without captain Danny Murphy when they play Juventus in Turin (8.05pm, Setanta Ireland, ITV 4).

Murphy was sent off in the previous round against Shakhtar Donetsk and misses out along with Nicky Shorey and Stefano Okaka, who are both cup-tied.

Paul Konchesky could replace Shorey at left back if he recovers from an ankle injury but Andy Johnson, Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil (all knee) remain sidelined. Republic of Ireland's Damien Duff will feature.

Juventus will be without

key players Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini and Amauri, who are all out with thigh injuries.