Liverpool clinging on

LONDON – Many Liverpool fans approached this season saying the Premier League should be the team’s top priority but a group-stage exit from the Champions League was probably not the payoff they had in mind.

That, however, is the prospect facing the five-times European champions as they take on Besiktas in a must-win match tonight knowing that even if they win their remaining three Group A games they could still fail to get through. The 2005 champions and last season’s runners-up have just one point from three games, having drawn in Porto, lost at home to Marseille and gone down 2-1 in Istanbul two weeks ago.Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is well aware of the danger but is refusing to look beyond Anfield on Tuesday.”We can talk, talk, talk but I cannot change our current situation unless I prepare the team properly to win the first game and then try to go on from there,” he told reporters.”Am I surprised that we are in this situation? No.This is the Champions League and if you make one mistake you can be in trouble.”Benitez described last month’s 1-0 home defeat by Marseille, who lead the group with seven points, as one of the worst performances of his tenure but remains sure of his ability to turn things round.”I think we have a better squad now and if we do the right things against Besiktas and win then we have confidence to go forward,” said the Spaniard.”It is a time to believe.”Nampa-ReutersThe 2005 champions and last season’s runners-up have just one point from three games, having drawn in Porto, lost at home to Marseille and gone down 2-1 in Istanbul two weeks ago.Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is well aware of the danger but is refusing to look beyond Anfield on Tuesday.”We can talk, talk, talk but I cannot change our current situation unless I prepare the team properly to win the first game and then try to go on from there,” he told reporters.”Am I surprised that we are in this situation? No.This is the Champions League and if you make one mistake you can be in trouble.”Benitez described last month’s 1-0 home defeat by Marseille, who lead the group with seven points, as one of the worst performances of his tenure but remains sure of his ability to turn things round.”I think we have a better squad now and if we do the right things against Besiktas and win then we have confidence to go forward,” said the Spaniard.”It is a time to believe.”Nampa-Reuters