Football - Liverpool FC: We must get off to a flying start, says Rafael Benitez

Sep 16 2009 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Football - Liverpool FC: RAFAEL BENITEZ will resist the urge to make wholesale changes as Liverpool aim to make a flying start to their Champions League campaign this evening.

The Anfield manager will take charge of his 300th match at the club when Hungarian champions Debrecen visit for the Group E opener.

After losing two of their opening three Premier League games, Liverpool are slowly rediscovering their form with back-to-back victories against Bolton Wanderers and Burnley.

Benitez is keen to continue building that momentum with his team in the midst of a busy period of seven games in 23 days which culminates with the visit to league leaders Chelsea on October 4.

And the Spaniard is determined not to underestimate the threat posed by their unheralded opponents tonight.

“We have had time after the Burnley game, but we have to analyse things,” said Benitez. “It’s not easy to know the real level of the other team. Because it’s a very important game and the DVDs and reports say they are a good team, we won’t change many players.

“We know MTK well because of the likes of Nemeth, and MTK are a very good club, and if Debrecen have beaten them in the league then they must be doing well.”

Debrecen are playing in the Champions League proper for the first time, having previously come closest in 2005 when they were beaten 6-0 on aggregate by Manchester United in the final qualifying round.

And Benitez added: “We are favourites to win this game and we have to manage this expectation. In terms of achieving more, the Champions League is a massive competition with very good teams, so we just have to take one step at a time.

“We have to take each game, see if we can qualify from the group stages and see how we progress. The Champions League has the best teams in Europe.

“Our record in the competition is very good but every year is different. For example, Real Madrid have a different group of players and a different manager, so it will all be different.”

Javier Mascherano has recovered from a pelvic problem but could find himself on the bench given the impressive performances of Yossi Benayoun and Lucas Leiva at the weekend.

Fabio Aurelio and Ryan Babel could be recalled to the starting line-up, while Benitez has revealed Daniel Agger is close to a return after undergoing an operation on a niggling back problem.

“Agger is training very hard,” said the Liverpool manager. “But because he’s gone a long time without strength work, we are trying to protect him a little bit. He is fit, but we have enough people in the squad to use. We need to improve his match fitness, but first we have to increase his strength.”

Benitez, meanwhile, has welcomed Liverpool’s £80million four-year shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered, which was announced on Monday.

Anfield managing director Christian Purslow has already stated Benitez’s transfer kitty will be “hugely enhanced”, and the Spaniard said: “You have to be really pleased because it shows the club is moving in the right direction.

“Bringing more money into the club maybe means we have more money in the transfer budget. It’s also positive for the image of the club, we are a top side and have a massive support around the world.

“We’ll have time to talk about if anyone is available in January but it’s clear we have to prepare for the future.”

Benitez has confirmed he will appeal against the Football Association charge of improper conduct following his post-match comments after the opening-day defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

TONIGHT’S officials are from Portugal, with Pedro Garcia the referee.