European tightrope walk continues for Liverpool

Besiktas were thumped 8-0 at Anfield in the last round of fixtures, a Champions League record, but group leaders Porto will pose a far greater threat to Liverpool’s hopes of reaching the knockout phase.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, under pressure after appearing to fall out with the club’s American owners, can ill afford his side to crash out this week, but the Spaniard appears to be up for the fight.

“The team has confidence,” Benitez said on Liverpool’s website this week. “We know it will be a difficult game because we know Porto are a team with quality so we have to do our job and see if it’s possible to play as well as we did against Besiktas.

“I am confident we can do it. We are team that can play under strain and stress. We have proved that.

“We are playing at Anfield — and we know we need to win to have a chance of progressing. So what we have to do is clear, and I believe we can do it.”

Predicting who Benitez chooses to score the goals they need is a tough job. Fernando Torres wasted a host of chances on Saturday and could make way for Peter Crouch, who scored twice in the thrashing of Besiktas.

Porto, who lost their only previous match Anfield in 2001, will arrive in confident mood having established a four-point lead at the top of the Portuguese league.

A draw could be sufficient to send them through, although the 2004 champions will be looking for the victory that will guarantee them a top-two place.

Holders AC Milan need just a point at Benfica on Wednesday to wrap up qualification for the Champions League last 16 with a game to spare. A defeat or draw would eliminate Benfica, who have three points, while a win would give them a chance.

Wednesday’s fixtures

Group E: Lyon v Barcelona; Stuttgart v Rangers

Group F: Dynamo Kyiv v AS Roma; Manchester United v Sp Lisbon

Group G: CSKA Moscow v PSV Eindhoven; Inter Milan v Fenerbahce

Group H: Sevilla v Arsenal; Steaua Bucuresti v Slavia Prague