Group A/Liverpool v AS Monaco: Liverpool return to the Champions League tonight almost two years since they slipped carelessly out of this competition in Basle, with Rafael Benitez painfully aware that more convincing progress this time around is prerequisite to his regime's success.
The Spaniard's first task on taking up the reins this summer was to attempt to persuade his captain and midfield inspiration Steven Gerrard to resist the lure of Chelsea and remain at Anfield. Should Liverpool slip meekly out of Europe's elite again starting with tonight's visit of Monaco and, with Jose Mourinho's interest in the 23-year-old remaining, Benitez may struggle to repeat that feat next summer.
That much already appears to have dawned on the Spaniard.
"For Gerrard and all the players, it's important to go a long way in the Champions League, to qualify for the latter stages, as it is for the club given the history of Liverpool," said Benitez. "It's also important for the manager here to win in the Champions League.
"Thinking about the future, it's better just to concentrate on the job in hand but it would be easier for us to have the best players here (if we do well in Europe). Steven is a fantastic player and he's got a great mentality. He will be even better in the future. I'm sure he's thinking only about Liverpool."
Gerrard's effervescence will be needed against last season's defeated finalists, despite the fact Didier Deschamps' squad is unrecognisable from the team which lost 3-0 to Porto in May.
Ludovic Giuly has joined Barcelona, Jerome Rothen has moved to Paris St Germain, Dado Prso has switched to Rangers and Fernando Morientes has returned to Real Madrid.
"The players who stayed will have the experience and will know what to expect in terms of determination and commitment," Deschamps said. "The new ones are used to high-level matches but it's hard to compare last year's team with the one we have this campaign. They are very different. The players are not the same any more, neither is the organisation." His team, he added, "could certainly be better. We have displayed good things in the league so far but we have no continuity during 90 minutes.
"The secret for success will be the same as last year - the players will have to raise their level all together."
Monaco's run to the final last season has not only raised their expectations but has also made opponents aware of their strengths and weaknesses.
"We've been considered differently since we eliminated Real Madrid and Chelsea," said Deschamps. "Maybe we inspire more respect, but this is not an advantage."
Monaco drew 2-2 at Stamford Bridge in the semi-finals last season and, while their loan player Javier Saviola is suspended, they can call upon one of the French League's most potent striker this term in the rejuvenated Mohamed Kallon. The Sierra Leone international will hope to exploit early teething problems for Benitez's Liverpool.
"We are starting to build a new team here," added the Spaniard, who welcomes Chris Kirkland to his squad after a back injury. "It's too soon, too early, to predict how far we can go because we need time for the improvements we are making to take hold."
Easing any frustrations tonight would set Liverpool up nicely for the challenges of Deportivo La Coruna and Olympiakos ahead.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
LIVERPOOL (4-1-3-2): Dudek; Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise; Hamann; Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Kewell; Cisse, Luis Garcia.
AS MONACO (3-1-4-2): Roma; Rodriguez, Squillaci, Givet; Zikos; Maicon, Diego Perez, Farnerud, Evra; Kallon, Adebayor.
Referee: T Hauge (Norway)
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