Qualification for Champions League knock-out phase would be huge for struggling Liverpool
Reds must target gradual progression
By Jamie Carragher
Liverpool have to raise their game if they are to have any hope of reaching the knock-out phase of the Champions League, according to Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher.
Brendan Rodgers' side, who slipped to a fourth consecutive defeat at Selhurst Park on Sunday, have endured a turgid spell in both domestic and European competitions this season.
Back-to-back defeats to Real Madrid on matchdays three and four, allied with their preceding loss in Basel, sees the Reds languishing third in Group B, nine and three points adrift of the current holders and Swiss outfit, respectively.
Liverpool, whose chances of reaching the knock-out phase are still firmly in their hands, travel to Bulgaria knowing anything less than a victory could hand the initiative to Basel, should they beat Madrid, and prematurely end their return to Europe’s elite club competition after a five-year absence.
“We need to raise our game, but it’s going to be a tough game whether you’re in good form or out of form as Liverpool unfortunately are at the moment,” he told Sky Sports.
“(In) the first game at Anfield Ludogorets – who people thought would be the whipping boys of the group – made it tough for Liverpool and they were fortunate on the night to get three points.
“It will be a very difficult game considering the form that Liverpool are in but of course we’ve got to raise the game, if Liverpool continue playing the way they are it will be very difficult to go through the group.”
Confidence
Liverpool have struggled to come to terms with the departure of Luis Suarez in the summer, and Daniel Sturridge’s untimely and prolonged injury has left Rodgers’ side well shy of the performances which propelled them to within inches of a maiden Premier League crown last term.
“It’s not easy for Liverpool to be performing the way they are now to getting to the levels of last season,” Carragher added.
“It’s going to be a gradual process I think over the next few weeks and months, hopefully it happens quite quickly. But for the time being they just need to get some results on the board, forget about performances really. The most important thing is getting results and hopefully that will start in Ludogorets.
“However you get the win, playing well or poorly, it doesn’t matter now. It’s about getting that confidence back. As Brendan Rodgers said after the game at Selhurst Park it’s sadly lacking now and understandably because the results and performances are not great.”
Huge
Carragher believes qualification for the latter stages could boost the Reds as they prepare for the busy festive period. And while acknowledging the importance of Wednesday’s tie, the Sky Sports pundit was quick to stress that Liverpool’s future in the competition was not completely reliant on the result in Razgrad.
“Liverpool’s future in the Champions League doesn’t come down to this game, they’ve obviously got the home game against Basel that they need to come through to qualify,” he said.
“I think if Liverpool qualify it will give everyone a massive lift at the club. It will give the players, the staff and supporters something to look forward to in the new year so I think it is very important for them.
“There has been a lot made of getting into the Champions League last season - you don’t want to go out at an early stage so they are huge, these next two games. They can’t qualify just through the Ludogorets game but they can put themselves almost there with a good result."