Liverpool's Champions League hopes have been dealt a blow after it was revealed Fernando Torres did not travel with the rest of the squad for the clash with Besiktas in Turkey.
The Spanish striker missed Saturday's derby triumph at Goodison Park after picking up a thigh injury while on international duty with Spain, and despite returning to training at the start of the week, it appears Wednesday's match in Istanbul has come too soon.
But there was good news for reserve team captain Jack Hobbs and Brazilian Lucas Leiva, who both made the trip, as the Reds go into the game knowing a positive result in the Group A clash at the Inonu Stadium is vital if they are to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Rafael Benitez admits Liverpool must win against Besiktas in Istanbul to get them back on track for qualification to the next phase of the Champions League.
The Reds have so far drawn with Porto and lost to Marseille, meaning the pressure is now on if they are to qualify from Group A.
"Porto are a good team and we know our first half performance wasn't good against them, but to get a draw when we went down to 10 men wasn't bad," Benitez told a pre-Besiktas press conference.
"We made a mistake in our next game against Marseille which was a bad night for us. We need to repair that mistake against Besiktas.
"It's clear we need to go to Istanbul and try to win. If we don't do that we know it will be difficult for us but all we are thinking about is the three points. The players know how important it is for us to win this game."
Meanwhile on the injury front, Xabi Alonso is back in the squad for the trip to Istanbul. However, Daniel Agger and Alvaro Arbeloa will miss the match.
Peter Crouch insists he is ready to play his role in what could prove to be a defining week in Liverpool's season.
The England international was an unused substitute in Saturday's victory over Everton, but with Fernando Torres ruled out, and key matches with Besiktas and Arsenal coming up in quick succession, Crouch is keen to make his mark.
"You've got to be ready," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"The manager is obviously going to change things and with injuries and what have you, you've always got to be ready to play and I certainly am.
"We've just had Everton, and now we've got the Champions League and Arsenal coming up. They are big, big games and I want to be part of it."
The Reds striker enjoyed a prolific season last time out, hitting 18 goals in all-competitions, but he has yet to recapture that form in the current campaign and has managed just one goal in seven appearances.
With fond memories of his scissor kick against Turkish opponents Galatasaray, and his hat-trick against Arsenal in the 4-1 win at Anfield last season still fresh in his mind, he is hoping the next two games could provide him with a much-needed change in fortune.
"They are good omens," he said.
"The hat-trick was one of my best moments for the club and the Galatasaray volley was probably the best goal scored for the club last season, so I wouldn't mind repeating those two things.
"If I get a game hopefully there's a chance. I did it last year against a full strength Arsenal side and I was really pleased to get the three goals and it would be great if I could repeat that.
"It doesn't happen too often. Robbie reminded me last year that he did it in four minutes or something!
"But not all of us can do that, so I was just really happy to get the hat-trick."
After a run of indifferent results the win over Everton at the weekend will have given the squad a huge boost going into the Champions League clash with Besiktas and Crouch believes the Reds must take that confidence into tonight's match in the Inonu Stadium.
"It was certainly a good atmosphere in the dressing room after the game on Saturday," he admitted.
"It's one of the best matches I've been involved in. All the lads were absolutely buzzing and it was a massive, massive game for the city.
"We were disappointed after last year, so this year we needed to win. You could see it on everyone's faces after the game. It was a big game, so to get a victory was crucial.
"But now we have got to kick-on and get a positive result in Turkey before what is a really important game with Arsenal at the weekend."
發表於 2007-10-24 10:03 AM
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