EARLIER in the week it was suggested to the Liverpool manager Roy Evans that hid team would brush aside Paris St Germain en route to the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup.
Although hardly a man prone to theatrical flourishes, Evans apparently fled the room ashen faced, explaining later that previously journalists had told him his team would brush aside Coventry City in last Sunday's English FA Premiership game at Anfield. Liverpool lost 2-1.
Lessons have been learned, warnings heeded and surprise, surprise, according to Evans "the lads have been bubbling in training" over the past 48 hours. It was eve so.
Joel Bats, the Paris manager was at Anfield and was seemingly impressed by what he saw. "I could not spot any weaknesses at all."
Evans knows Paris are a competent side. Significantly, he also knows they are not as strong as they were 12 months ago when they defeated Rapid Vienna to win this tournament. "We respect them, they respect us. They'll fancy their chances, we fancy ours. It is a simple as that, really."
The Liverpool team is likely to pick itself at the Parc de Princes. Mark Wright, perplexingly singled out as Liverpool's defensive weak link by some Parisian representatives will return after suspension to replace Bjorn Kvarme the Norwegian who is dependable but, on this occasion, ineligible.
Although only a peripheral figure at the weekend, erratic striker Stan Collymore is likely to retain his place alongside Robbie Fowler.
It is Paris who have the problems. Brazilian striker Leonardo missed the weekend draw with Wrennes because of a groin strain and while he is expected to Ia he will do so in some discomfort.
Defenders Didier Domi and Bruno Engotty will be required to negotiate late fitness tests if they are to take their place in front of a capacity crowd of 48,000.
. A Barcelona squad that is arguably the strongest in Europe will be stretched to the limits in their semi final with Fiorentina tonight. Three times winners Barcelona will be without six players four of them first choices.
Barcelona warmed up for the game by thrashing Sporting Gijon 4-0 at the weekend and were boosted by the news that both their chief rivals for second place in the Spanish league and leaders Real Madrid were held to draws.
Fiorentina, who were unlucky in a 0-0 draw with Internazionale on Saturday, are currently ninth in Serie A, 17 points behind league leaders Juventus. That lowly league standing reflects the extent to which the Florence club have based their whole season on their European campaign.
They will be handicapped by the absence of two first choice players in cup tied Russian winger Andreij Kanchelskis and suspended Swedish midfielder Stefan Schwarz.
Although coach Ranieri was giving nothing away on his plans, he may be tempted to play a cautious 4-5-1 formation to compensate for the loss of Schwarz's covering work and the extra width added by Kanchelskis.
Sandro Cois, Emiliano Bigica, Anselmo Robbiati and Brazilian Oliveira could all line up in midfield alongside Rui Costa, leaving Batistuta on his own up front. As for Ronaldo, he may be marked in defence by Lorenzo Amoruso and in midfield by Cois.
Robson will be without key midfielders Ivan de la Pena and Josep Guardiola, both of whom are suspended. Guardiola and de la Pena tend to supply the ideas, while injuries have put paid to defender Sergi Barjuan and utility man Luis Enrique Martinez.
Another midfielder, Oscar Garcia, is also out injured while winger Emmanuel Amunike is ineligible after turning out for Sporting Lisbon in a European competition already this season.
