The Red Tide to Moscow: Liverpool Prepares for a Showdown

Group of Death

UEFA Champions League Group A seemed seemingly straight forward for the mighty Reds—but surprisingly it will all come down to an indefinite crunch on the final match day.

Liverpool must win this game, as barring a near-miracle upset of Porto by Besiktas in Portugal, a draw won’t be enough.

Will the Reds finish the job?

And if they do, what are their chances of reaching a second final in as many years?

Campaign

A glimpse of results of Liverpool’s Champions League campaign so far shows that while the Reds started badly, with a draw and two losses in the first three games, they have improved immensely since then and have never looked back.

A clinical 8-0 hammering of the Turkish Cup holders, followed by a spectacular 4-1 late-goal rout of the Portuguese champions have placed qualifying firmly back in the hands of Benitez’s side, and set up a crunch-match showdown with French side Marseille.

The stage is set for the Spaniard to use his strategic and tactical strengths to send the Reds into the knockout rounds. It is the kind of pressure-filled situation that Rafa Benitez thrives on.

Current Form

A greatly modified Liverpool team gave a lackluster performance on Saturday. Short of ideas plus missing opportunities combined with poor refereeing and hitting the woodwork twice saw the five-time European Champions slump to their first League defeat of the season against Reading.

On Tuesday, we will see a new Liverpool side take to the field—literally and figuratively. Kuyt, Benayoun and Hyypia should return to the starting lineup and the team's approach to the game will differ from their strategy against Reading.

Benitez will set out to attack right from the kick off, as an early lead will be vital both to silence the home fans, and to calm the visitors' early nerves. With so much at stake, key players such as in-form captain Steven Gerrard and hitman El-Nino must step up to the occasion if Liverpool are to avoid disappointment.

Champions League Chances

Looking back at the road to Liverpool’s last two Champions League finals, it is clear that Rafa is capable of beating any team in the world.

In 2005 Benitez beat Juventus, Chelsea and Milan against all odds—with a lesser squad. Then last season, Barcelona and Chelsea both had superior teams, but Benitez’s tactical adroitness saw the Reds gleefully sail into yet another priceless European Cup final.

Benitez has built a terrific squad. If Liverpool triumph on Tuesday, the red tide might still be going to Moscow after all—for a remarkable third final in four years of Europe’s most prestigious competition.