Liverpool v Benfica: Are we up for this?

Thursday 8th April 2010
Quarter Finals of the UEFA Europa League
Liverpool v Benfica kick off time 20:05

2-1 down from the 1st leg, Liverpool need to score and either keep a clean sheet or win by a 2 goal margin if Benfica score to progress to the semi-finals.

So, the stage is set, another amazing European night at Anfield looms, the 12th man will play their part and be vociferous as ever, the mighty red men will take to the battlefield as they aim to pour cold water on the burning media bias against the club and manager that is raging out of control.

Quite simply, only a win will do or the headlines will be so anti-Rafa, anti-Liverpool they would lead you to believe that Liverpool football club are nowhere near good enough to grace the Blue Square Premier League let alone the top league in club football.

So how to silence the critics? Win, and win big.

This day marks a significant point in my life as tonight will be my first visit to Anfield for a European game.

This season my record at Anfield has been 3 wins and 1 draw so putting the dire 2-2 with Birmingham out of my head for a second I was there to witness 2 magnificent and passionate victories over our nearest and 'dearest' rivals, namely the 2-0 over the scumbags and the 1-0 over the bluenoses. The atmosphere at these games was immense, intense and to say it was like a cauldron would be an understatement. However, the atmosphere of a European night I am told will be something different, and frankly I can't wait - as may be evident in the fact that I am writing this!

I am literally full of expectation, hope, anticipation and excitement.

Much has been said over the past couple of days about Rafa's tactics, team formation, who will be in and who will be on the bench. The fact is, we don't have Ryan Babel following the debacle from last week but in that moment we saw a spark of passion that brought Liverpool fans together to say "Well done Ryan lad" because he showed emotion, passion and camaraderie by sticking up for his team mate after he was blatantly scythed down by Luisao. The rest of the team will do well to take a leaf out of Ryans book tonight.

The message in the dressing room should be;

Pull together as a team, it doesn't matter who is on the pitch, it doesn't matter what the formation will be. All that matters is that we play as a team, we fight as a team and the 12th man will play their part.

The message around the ground should be;

We must roar the team to victory and we will hush the critics, the anti-Rafa and anti-Liverpool media, for tonight will be our night and we will prevail.

I believe...
I hope...
I hope you do too...

Come on Redmen!!

YNWA