The Liverpool Daily Post reports this morning that Jamie Carragher believes the team will thrive on the mountain of pressure built up ahead of them to qualify for the next round of the Champions League.
The Reds take on Besiktas at Anfield tomorrow night on the back of a draw and two straight defeats in Europe this season. A victory is essential to turn fortunes around. But Carragher is confident his team-mates can rise to the challenge.
He says, ‘œWe should have pressure, that’s what comes from playing for a big team.
‘œIf the results don’t go well, and it is same for Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and all the big clubs around Europe, you are under pressure.
‘œBut we want to be under pressure, because it is a big game, it is only what we expect.”
Meanwhile The Independent questions Rafael Benitez’s commitment to the Champions League this season, quoting the Reds manager as saying, “We are planning to build a stadium costing £400m. But if you progress in the Champions League and you are in the final you could be talking about £10m more. Clearly the problem is not money. You want to score goals and win.”
The Independent queries, ‘œSome may argue with Benitez’s mathematics. The prize-money for reaching this year’s final ‘“ £16.4m to the winner; £14.3m to the runners-up ‘“ is dwarfed by the gate receipts, merchandising and other spin-offs, and the club’s owners certainly need it. Their annual interest payments alone on the £298m Hicks and Gillett borrowed to buy Liverpool are £21.5m and Hicks has been attempting to agree a new financing arrangements since the collapse of a proposed deal negotiated by Goldman Sachs.’
Liverpool vs Besiktas kicks-off at 7.45pm at Anfield this evening and a live chat session will be taking place in the This Is Anfield Chat Room during the match,
