Liverpool have been called CHICKENS IN KIEV...
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RAFAEL BENITEZ insists his Liverpool players won't wilt under the pressure in tonight's grudge match with Maccabi Haifa.
Maccabi have tried to rattle the Reds ahead of the Champions League return by accusing Benitez and his side at a stormy press conference yesterday of being scared to play in Israel.
Coach Ronny Levi has added further fuel to the fire by calling Liverpool 'dirty' and he has produced a video from the Anfield game to back up his claims.
On top of all this, £12million is riding on tonight's match for Liverpool in Kiev's Valeri Lobanowski Stadium and Benitez knows this is a game they cannot afford to lose.
"Financially, it's really, really important for the club to be in the group stages. But it's also important for the confidence of the team, for the club and the supporters."
Benitez shrugged off Levi's dirty play claims with a joke to diffuse some of the attention when he quipped: "I don't think we're dirty and if you looked at our shirts in the first game, they were clean."
Maccabi will take comfort from Liverpool's tortuous journey to the Ukraine capital, which is basking in the last days of its hot summer, and they suffered long delays on their departure and arrival.
No doubt this is why Maccabi insisted on this gruelling 3,000-mile round trip for the Reds, but Benitez said the delays had not affected them.
"It is not serious for us and the players are OK," he said.
Daniel Agger is expected to deputise for Carragher at the heart of the Liverpool back-line and Benitez talked-up the Danish
"We are fitter than two weeks ago and we are confident we will progress to the group stages of the Champions League." -
LOL
This guy should manage Newcastle or something -
Well, anyway Liverpool are expected to win Maccabi Haifa... If it was playing in Haifa, maybe still got a slim chance but since neutral ground, rather impossible.
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pool drawed.
well well well -
so who qualified?
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liverpool won 3 - 2 on aggregate.Originally posted by Mohammed:so who qualified?
what do they expect?
they are footballers, not soldiers.
i wont want to go to israel too with rockets flying around. -
Rockets have stop flying around for a week liao... Anyway Liverpool just wanted to get the match away from Haifa cos this way they have a better chance of not losing as it has prove.Originally posted by dragg:liverpool won 3 - 2 on aggregate.
what do they expect?
they are footballers, not soldiers.
i wont want to go to israel too with rockets flying around.
Maccabi Haifa... If it was playing in Haifa, may have got a real chance but since neutral ground, draw at best... -
Siao boh? They want a modern day Munich air crash?
I hope Hizbollah can send some missiles direct into those israelis journalists' office. -
that much is also true.Originally posted by zocoss:Rockets have stop flying around for a week liao... Anyway Liverpool just wanted to get the match away from Haifa cos this way they have a better chance of not losing as it has prove.
Maccabi Haifa... If it was playing in Haifa, may have got a real chance but since neutral ground, draw at best...