Liverpool travel with confidence

PSV v Liverpool:Liverpool's arrival here yesterday was in marked contrast to their last visit in September. Then, as they prepared for a group game, they were gripped by self-doubt after a hiding in the Merseyside derby a few days earlier; now the side are full of conviction.

"The confidence of knocking the champions out means we don't fear anyone now," said Steven Gerrard, reflecting on the dismissal of Barcelona in the previous round. "This team that Rafa's built never knows when it's beaten."

Liverpool have long felt more comfortable challenging in continental competition, but the buoyancy with which they arrived in the Netherlands reflected the progress made on and off the pitch since the autumn. One of the new owners, George Gillett, will attend his first European away match tonight, with his club strong favourites to knock out PSV, a side racked by injury and dismal form which is undermining their title defence.

Chelsea or Valencia await in the semi-final and there is a sense - admittedly expressed more readily by the supporters than the squad - that destiny is drawing Liverpool to the final in Athens. The group game at PSV finished goalless, with the hosts prevailing comfortably at Anfield, but they run out tonight aware that this is their last chance of a trophy this season.

"This will be a different Liverpool performance to our last visit," said Benitez. "Back in September we didn't have a lot of confidence and we were conceding too many goals. What we needed then was to be compact and to work hard as a team to keep a clean sheet. Now, even when we went to Barcelona, we went out there trying to score and to win. We will do the same in Holland."

Gerrard added: "If we're a goal down, or even a couple down, we never give in until the final whistle. And Rafa's unique. He's a manager who eats, breathes and sleeps football. He's 24/7 and loves the game. I've got total belief and confidence he can take us forward and bring success to this football club. Everyone is aware of what is happening off the pitch at Liverpool. If the people above Rafa give him the backing and the support, he can make us strong."

The Spaniard, though, was quick to warn against assumptions that progress is certain. Ronald Koeman inspired his Benfica side to eliminate the then holders last season, and has already disposed of Arsenal in the knock-out phase this time.

Asked why the PSV manager has enjoyed so much success against English clubs, Benitez said. "Because, sometimes, we think that we (English clubs) are better than his team. Complacency is dangerous."

Yet realism will dictate the PSV approach tonight. Alex, the Brazilian centre half owned by Chelsea, is absent through injury and Koeman may be without up to four other first-choices. "We don't have the physical resources of Liverpool so we have to be smarter," he said. "We need a good tactical base that can compensate for maybe having less quality against bigger teams. They beat Barcelona and are on a roll but if we have chances, then Liverpool know what we're capable of. It's important not to give anything away: 0-0 would be a good result, but 1-0 would be better."

Arsenal were defeated by that score here, but PSV have managed only eight goals in the competition this season. Jamie Carragher, who will set a new club record with his 58th European Cup appearance, will marshal the defence, with Liverpool also hoping to benefit from Javier Mascherano's growing influence.

The Argentinian may end this season as a player whose involvement for West Ham effectively consigned them to the Championship, with a potential points penalty to come, but also as a Champions League winner with Liverpool. He has already managed almost as much competitive action for his new club as he had with the Londoners, and his display in the 4-1 win over Arsenal was that of a man rediscovering the form which so impressed during last summer's World Cup finals.

At £1.5 million and a Liverpool player for 18 months, Mascherano appears a bargain and will stand in for the suspended Mohamed Sissoko tonight.

"I said when we signed the player that he was a winner," said Benitez. "He has character and he wanted to play and show people that he was good enough to do well in England. He keeps possession and is always well placed, and you could see on Saturday just how good he really is."

Guardian Service