BELGIUM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Liverpool prepare for their Champions League third round qualifier against Belgian champions Standard Liege

Record ID: 785448

  • Title: BELGIUM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Liverpool prepare for their Champions League third round qualifier against Belgian champions Standard Liege
  • Date: 14th August 2008
  • Summary: LIEGE, BELGIUM (AUGUST 12, 2008) (REUTERS) LIEGE STADIUM, LIVERPOOL PLAYERS ARRIVING ON PITCH LIVERPOOL MANAGER RAFAEL BENITEZ PASSING IN FRONT OF PLAYERS BENITEZ WALKING, TURNING AROUND FERNANDO TORRES (BLONDE) LOOKING TO HIS RIGHT PLAYERS ARRIVING BENITEZ MAKING NERVOUS GESTURE WITH HANDS TORRES PUTTING ORANGE BIB ON BENITEZ WITH LIVERPOOL CAPTAIN STEVE GERRARD, DIRK KUYT AND OTHER PASSING BALL AROUND GOALKEEPER PEPE REINA (BALD) MIDFIELDER XAVI ALONSO (GRAY SHIRT), JAMIE CARRAGHER (RED) SHIRT IN GROUP OF PLAYERS PLAYERS WATCHING PLAYERS IN CIRCLE LISTENING TO BENITEZ BENITEZ TALKING TO PLAYERS, SIDED BY GERRARD (LEFT) AND KUYT (RIGHT) AND TORRES (ORANGE SHIRT)
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA6SCTWS0EFWNQ0GD51AZ76J0W2
  • Story Text: Fernando Torres and new Liverpool strking partner Robbie Keane will play for the first time in Europe as they prepare to face Belgian champions Standard Liege in the Champions League third round qualifier first leg.
    Liverpool's new strike force of Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane can be a match for any in Europe, manager Rafael Benitez said on Tuesday (August 12) as tyhey prepare to play Standard Liege on Wednesday (August 13) for a place in the group stage of the Champions League.
    With 16 places still available in the lucrative 32-team group stage, former winners Liverpool are the favourites but Benitez recommended caution against the Belgian champions.

    "Always, I have confidence in my players but when you play against a good team in Europe, you need to be careful so we know that they lost against Saint Etienne but they won the other day the super cup so we know that this is a good team and especially at home."
    The statistics are good for a partnership that should get its first competitive workout in Liege.
    Torres scored 33 goals in all competitions in a memorable debut campaign at Anfield while Keane, Ireland's record scorer, hit over 100 goals in six seasons at Tottenham.
    Benitez was hopeful that captain Steven Gerrard would be fit to face the Belgian champions on Wednesday despite struggling with a thigh strain.
    Benitez spent 19 million pounds ($36.17 million) to sign Keane from Tottenham Hotspur and pair him with Torres, scorer of Spain's winning goal at Euro 2008, and he has high hopes for their partnership.
    Benitez said the two strikers are top class.

    "It is clear if they play together for a long time, it would be easier for them to develop an understanding but I think they will be okay because both players are clever," Benitez said on the eve of the match.
    Standard Liege coach Lazzlo Boloni said it can good for his team to start the match as underdogs.

    "This is a game where Liverpool is the favorite, as you know it well. But, on our side, we like this position, we don't have too much pressure on us, it's not bad. And we will try, we will not try, we will do, we will give everything."
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