Quality of Liverpool to lower the Standard Liege standard
RONNY ROSENTHAL was nicknamed 'The Rocket' during an explosive introduction to life at Anfield.
But the former Reds and Standard Liege striker delivered an exocet to the Belgian club's hopes of progressing into the group stages of the Champions League for the first time next week.
Rosenthal was signed by Liverpool from Standard Liege in 1990 and still keeps a close eye on events at both clubs.
And ahead of Wednesday's third qualifying round first leg in Belgium, he declared: "If it was just one game, I tell you it would be difficult, but over two games I think Liverpool will make it.
"They also play the first game in Liege which suits them and I think that Liverpool will beat Standard Liege over two games.
"In football anything is possible, but the fact that Liverpool have two games gives them more chance."
Rosenthal was signed on-loan from Liege by Kenny Dalglish in March 1990.
Few Liverpool strikers have ever enjoyed a more immediate impact than the popular Israeli.
He made a match-changing substitute appearance against Southampton at Anfield, then hammered a hat-trick on his full debut at Charlton.
He went on to rifle seven goals in the final eight matches of the 1989-90 season, effectively propelling the Reds to their 18th and last League title.
That earned him a permanent move to Anfield, but he found it difficult to rediscover the consistency of that opening goals salvo.
Under Graeme Souness, he was likened by the manager as a 'super sub' in the David Fairclough mould - and an amazing miss at Aston Villa became an iconic moment.
But he still celebrated a last minute Anfield derby winner in front of the Kop and produced a typically weaving run which set up Ian Rush to score his record-breaking 287th Liverpool goal in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
He later joined Tottenham, where he showed his ability to make an instant impact hadn't faded with a stunning 20-yard header against Sheffield Wednesday on his debut.
Now a football consultant, he said: "Liege is a club on a high. They won the league for the first time after 25 years last season so this is something new for them.
"It's a club that gradually in the last few years has done better and better. Last year they were the best in Belgium and have a few interesting players.
"They don't have great experience in the Champions League but we'll see what happens.
"They will be very disappointed to meet a team like Liverpool at this stage.
"Not just them, of course. There will be many clubs who would rather not face Liverpool in the qualifying round of the Champions League. It is a disappointment for them but it will be good business for the club.
"They will fill the stadium next week and financially they will be okay."
After helping FC Bruges win the Belgian League and reach the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 1988, Rosenthal moved to Liege.
He remembers his time there fondly.
"I had a great time at Standard Liege. I played there for one-and-a-half seasons," he said. "My first season was great. I scored something like 15 or 18 goals
"The second one was worse, but we had big changes at the club, including a change of coach. I moved that season to Liverpool so in the end it was a good season for me!
"It will be difficult for me to watch because I like both clubs. When Liverpool play Spurs it's hard because I don't know who I want to win.
"I really want Liverpool to do well and play in the Champions League. It's hard, but I want Liverpool to win, obviously."
With his Liverpool and Tottenham links, Rosenthal is also well placed to analyse the impact of recent Reds signing Robbie Keane.
"I think Robbie is a top player," he explained.
"He has done it for many years now for Spurs and I think that Liverpool have seen a possible link with Torres which will be good. Robbie is a goalscorer but he is also a player who can set up many goals and I think he will be good for Liverpool."
Keane's debut for the Reds will come in Liege next week, against a team also nicknamed The Reds (Les Rouches).
The side is one of the youngest in the Jupiler League with Zaire striker Dieumerci Mbokani their major threat, described as the next Didier Drogba by the Belgian media.
But the English Reds will be firm favourites to progress - a prediction endorsed by Rocket Ronny Rosenthal.
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