Benitez’ boys step forth

Mar 30 2008 Wales On Sunday

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez is aiming for a Champions League double over a fortnight of intense activity for the Anfield club.

Today the Reds renew their rivalry with Everton in the 207th Mersey derby and on Wednesday it is Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, with the return at Anfield six days later.

Benitez will throw his best resources at both competitions.

Coming on the back of last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester United, the Liverpool boss said: “We approached the Manchester United game with a lot of confidence, and now we cannot change the result.

“We are really disappointed but the best thing for us is to play a derby because it will mean everyone is really focused on a fantastic game.

“When you face any other team it is important, but for games like this you know this is different.

“Everyone in the street will tell us that, so we know that this is the right sort of game for us now.

“We have the Champions League coming up, and we must also qualify, so it is crucial that we go into these games in the right frame of mind to be really, really focused on this game.

“With a position in the top four at stake it may have more passion than before, if that is possible.”

Liverpool will probably replace the suspended Javier Mascherano with Brazilian youngster Lucas Leiva.