Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has urged his side not to be complacent when they face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League quarterfinal at Anfield on Wednesday holding a 3-0 lead.
Wednesday’s other quarterfinal is far more evenly balanced with Bayern Munich hosting AC Milan after the teams finished last week’s first leg 2-2 in Italy.
The winners of that tie will face Manchester United, 8-3 aggregate conquerors of AS Roma on Tuesday, in one semi while Chelsea, who beat Valencia 3-2 on aggregate, seem set for a second semi in three seasons against Liverpool.
Liverpool won that semifinal 1-0 on aggregate before going on to beat AC Milan in the final and Benitez has called on his players to remember that victory in Istanbul 2005 when they came from three goals down at halftime before winning the final on penalties.
”It is a strange situation and I would like to be in this position all the time,” Benitez told a news conference.
”It is not normal and the players understand how important it will be not to be complacent. We have to be really focused and not over-confident.
”We have experience of being three goals behind and winning from our victory in the Champions League final and we must concentrate.”
Liverpool’s hopes of winning the Champions League again have been built this season on the consistent form of 22-year-old Daniel Agger.
The Danish international has taken over from Sami Hyypia in the heart of the Liverpool defence and produced some mature performances.
”Before we signed Daniel Agger we asked people about him and everyone said he had a good character,” Benitez added.
”We knew his ability as a player and I am not surprised he has taken over from Sami so soon.”
Injury worries
In Munich, Bayern have mounting injury problems but are convinced they can finish the job against AC Milan and book a place in the semifinals for the first time since 2001.
Bayern centre-back Daniel van Buyten struck an injury-time equaliser, his second goal of the night, to clinch a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Milan. That result gives the Germans a slight edge heading into the return.
Martin Demichelis is struggling with a pulled calf muscle, Bastian Schweinsteiger strained his left knee at the weekend and Owen Hargreaves, Lucio and Hasan Salihamidzic are also trying to shake off injuries.
Willy Sagnol is definitely out after suffering a serious knee injury in the first leg but the news is not all bad.
Midfielder Mark van Bommel and captain and goalkeeper Oliver Kahn are available again after suspension and Bayern come into the game after a 2-1 win at Hanover 96 that kept them in the Bundesliga title hunt.
Bayern were beaten by Milan 5-2 on aggregate in the first knockout round last season but with Ottmar Hitzfeld now back in charge they look a lot more resilient.
Milan’s morale was lifted on Saturday when they beat Empoli 3-1 to close to within a point of Serie A’s fourth and final Champions League berth.
The outward confidence, however, masks anxieties over the state of their attack.
Alberto Gilardino’s suspension means Filippo Inzaghi could start as a lone striker, though the 33-year-old has been struggling to shake off a hamstring injury.
Milan’s away form in Europe this season has also been far from impressive, with their sole win against Anderlecht being offset by scoreless draws against Lille and Celtic, and a 1-0 defeat to AEK Athens. – Reuters