Liverpool must fire on all cylinders

TIME was when the prospect of Liverpool playing host to a motley collection of Norwegian bit part players would have sent shudder of apathy rather than apprehension rippling through the ranks of the Merseyside faithful.

In those far distant days when Scandinavian teams were cannon fodder, teams like SK Brann Bergen held no fear even for those English clubs who were only on nodding terms with competency.

But Anfield will be filled to capacity tonight for a Cup Winners' Cup quarter final second leg which holds the potential for intrigue and, quite possibly, upset.

Liverpool may have emerged form the first leg a fortnight ago with a creditable 1-1 draw, but their performance was so littered with basic errors that afterwards the overriding emotion was one of sheer relief.

Indeed, had Brann accepted just half of the chances they fashioned, Liverpool would be more concerned with saving face than with chasing a place in the last four of the one European tournament they have yet to win.

"Brann proved what an accomplished side they are - they caused us all sorts of problems and I was more than happy to leave Norway with a draw and an away goal," said Liverpool manager Roy Evans.

"We will have to be just right on the night, there is no doubt about that. Nothing can be taken for granted. There is no such thing as an easy game in Europe these days everyone is now agreed on that.

"It would be suicidal for us to try and hold what we have and go for a goalless draw. We must try and win this game, which means defending without giving away silly goals," he added.

Although Evans still felt the need to play a game of bluff with his Norwegian counterpart Kjell Tennfjord yesterday, his team almost certainly picks itself. McAteer is likely to play, despite having 10 stitches inserted in a head wound after the weekend trip to Nottingham Forest and with Kvaripe ineligible, Harkness is the probable deputy.

From the perspective of those who like their football to be underpinned by lurking menace, the shame is that Ruddock is likely to be confined to the substitutes bench tonight. The former England international centre back deputised for the injured Wright two weeks ago but was given a wretched time by Brann's quicker, younger and slimmer forwards.

"I think it is scandalous that he is playing for a major Premiership club because he is not even good enough to, play in our League," said the Brann captain, Calus, Eftevaag in a somewhat less than diplomatic ouburst. "I am playing in a better League than this guy will ever play in, retorted Ruddock testily.

A man who has a seemingly unshakeable faith in the ability of his team, Tennfjord senses a famous victory on, hallowed turf this evening. "Last season Liverpool was knocked out of the UEFA Cup - on their own pitch - by Brondby of Denmark," he said. "No one expected it but it happened. "If our first meeting proved anything at all it, is that we do have the right sort of player to cause Liverpool many, many problems," he added.