Rafael Benitez looking for silver lining
RAFAEL BENITEZ believes silverware and not money is the motivating factor as Liverpool's Champions League aspirations go on the line this evening.
The Anfield outfit entertain Standard Liege in the second leg of their third qualifying round tie knowing only victory will guarantee them passage to the lucrative group stages.
Benitez's side were grateful for Pepe Reina's penalty save in the first leg a fortnight ago as they escaped with a goalless draw having been completely outplayed by the Belgian champions.
Liverpool's failure to net an away goal means Standard need only a score draw tonight to eliminate the five-time European Cup winners while a second goalless match would send the game to a decisive penalty shoot-out.
Elimination would cost Liverpool an estimated £12million and potentially hamper Benitez's future transfer plans.
But the Liverpool manager, who has guided his team to victory in all four previous encounters at this stage of the competition, instead regards the chance of lifting another trophy as the driving force behind his team.
"For me, the first thing is silverware," said Benitez. "I like to talk about trophies, that is the main thing. But the Champions League is also about money and you have to take the two things together. But we are here to win titles, not to make money.
"I always tell my players that if they win games, they win trophies and then they will have higher wages and more money. We need to win silverware so we will be better in all of these areas.
"Do our finances in any way depend on getting through? No, I don't think so. It is not about money, it is about winning.
"We know the Champions League is a fantastic competition and it is really, really important that we go through and that we can approach the game against Aston Villa with confidence."
Liverpool experienced a hostile atmosphere in Liege's intimate Stade Maurice Dufrasne two weeks ago.
And Benitez is confident the Belgians will receive a warm welcome of their own by a packed Anfield this evening.
"I don't like to talk about the supporters in this case because when you say you need the supporters, it implies that you did not have the support before," he said.
"We always have our supporters backing the team. They know how important this game is to the team so they will be supporting them from the first minute to the end.
"That is always their way. You cannot say anything about the fans - they are the best.
"If I'm asked 100 times whether we will win at Anfield tomorrow and go through to the Champions League, 100 times I will say yes. To play at Anfield is a bonus for us. We have to do well for our people."
With Sami Hyypia declared fit, Benitez has an almost full strength squad to choose from.
Ryan Babel could start on the left flank having appeared as a substitute on Saturday against Middlesbrough, but fellow Olympians Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva won't be considered after being omitted from the squad list for the qualifying games due to their involvement in Beijing.
"It is very simple," said Benitez. "We have to put eight British players on the list and you have to decide before the list and you have to consider who would most likely to be in the final, so we put Ryan Babel on the list and leave Mascherano and Lucas out."
TONIGHT'S officials are from Switzerland, with Massimo Busacca the referee.
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