Danny Murphy

Reds will rise to occasion

Tue Nov 24 12:26PM

I think that Liverpool have a very good chance of winning at Debrecen. Even without Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel, the impact of a fit Steven Gerrard in the side will be massive.

He always has the ability to spur on players around him and bring out the best in his team-mates.

Liverpool have the ability to rise to the occasion when it really matters. Liverpool must approach the game in the right frame of mind as games like this are never easy.

Given that Liverpool must really win the game, they will approach it in an attacking manner and with a higher intensity than we have seen from them of late. If they put pressure on Debrecen from the first whistle, then they have every opportunity of progressing should the Lyon-Fiorentina result go their way.

It is difficult going into a game knowing that your destiny depends on another result, but that shouldn't affect the focus of the Liverpool players. All they can do is concentrate on their game and ensure that they give themselves the best possible opportunity to progress with a win.

I don't think Rafael Benitez should be concerned for his job at this stage. Liverpool had a great season last year, and they have the squad to get them through to the next stage of the Champions League.

Benitez is the type of character who is forward-focused and always positive. He will still see opportunities for Liverpool this season such as the FA Cup, which is a fantastic trophy to win, and securing a Champions League spot for next season.

The Liverpool fans will be behind the manager and believing this a season they can rekindle, and find the kind of form we know they can produce.

- - -

It will be a difficult game for us on Wednesday against a committed Blackburn Rovers side.

They will be feeling confident following a good 2-0 win against Bolton on Sunday, and will be putting in that extra effort for Sam Allardyce, who will be absent from the game. The squad have a good relationship with their manager and will definitely be looking to continue the momentum with another good win.

I remember at Liverpool when we had a similar situation with Gerard Houllier in 2001 after he suffered a heart attack.

It is a very difficult time for all involved at the club and I remember Gerard still feeding back to the squad via phone and through Phil Thomson, showing his commitment even under those circumstances.

It certainly had a galvanising effect on the team, and was a real time of togetherness within the squad. It will be the same in the Blackburn dressing room at the moment.

Comments1 - 22 of 22

It seems the Reds are looking for others to help them again, if you want European football Liverpool make it yourselves.
From glyn.jones2001 on Tue Nov 24 01:01PM
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typical scouser ..of course it will effect the scouse needing a result from another game...focus?..in liverpool squad?..your having a laugh!..the scouse are deservedly 'dead and buried' in the champions league and the prem...get over yourself danny....!
From stuartxland on Tue Nov 24 01:30PM
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Glory Man United it's the easy way!
From ciaran.daly65 on Tue Nov 24 02:04PM
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Firoentina will win tonight so this article is irrevelant
From rory_kell on Tue Nov 24 02:42PM
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great football knowledge being spoken on this comment thread. i didnt realsie the scholls had finished for christmas already.
From nick_sutty on Tue Nov 24 02:52PM
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I have no doubt that Liverpool will win today - they may be missing some key players, but the players on the pitch are no schlubs either. I don't think they'll have much trouble from Debrechen. The only problem is the Fiorentina-Lyon game. If Fiorentina wins, it doesn't matter if Liverpool beat Debrechen 19-0, they're out. Anything could happen though.
From mikebilla on Tue Nov 24 03:07PM
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Too much being written about a second rate team, with a third rate manager who will again deliver nothing this year......
From mambles on Tue Nov 24 03:44PM
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Errrrm thats great that you're playing Blackburn on Wednesday Danny Murphy but i think you'll find Allardyce manages Bolton so Wednesdays game has nothing to do with him. I thought u were a pro footballer derrrrrrrrr!!
From jay8my on Tue Nov 24 03:46PM
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LOL I can't believe you're debating if "the great LFC" are capable of beating a third-rate team...
hahahahaha this is priceless
i thought these 3 points were a given? and Liverpool will rise to the occasion?... it matters not anyway... even though i doubt they'll win later... Fiorentina are still far too good
no CL this season after today and no CL next season... then Torres leaves and we see Nottingham Forest all over again
From wa.irvine on Tue Nov 24 03:54PM
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The other team have been Whipping Boys and if Liverpool can not win there is something seriously wrong
From rblackhurst2004 on Tue Nov 24 04:11PM
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It is not the reds who have to rise to the occasion. After all, they don't play Barcelona away in a must-win game. It is Lyon who has to rise to the occasion and beat Fiorentina having qualified. I must say Liverpool have a great chance of winning the Europea League Cup or whatever the formerly great UEFA cup is called today.
From a_21_joker on Tue Nov 24 04:24PM
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Liverpool will probabley loose. Theyare playing rubbish this season, and wont sudddenly start playing well. Chelsea will win, Man U will come a very close second, Arsenal third...........Liverpool sixth. ( Tottenham fan )
From hmorrellroberts on Tue Nov 24 04:25PM
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Jay8my you may be mistaken. you obviously don't watch football anymore.megson manages bolton and allardyce manages blackburn.
From conalmartin on Tue Nov 24 04:45PM
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I think you are the worst writer on the planet. You always choose the popular side, and you are not even covincing at that. We all know Steven Gerrard's quality; don't need a fourth-rate writer going on and on about it. Tell us something we don't know for a change.
From talktogolddudu on Tue Nov 24 05:36PM
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you say looserpool had a great season last season no cup finals and runners up in pl shows how your standards have dropped you now accept failure
From moose11066 on Tue Nov 24 06:13PM
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hey danny hope you get the chance to knock them out of the europa league
From moose11066 on Tue Nov 24 06:15PM
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Jay when did Allardyce take over at Bolton then? numpty!
Errrrm thats great that you're playing Blackburn on Wednesday Danny Murphy but i think you'll find Allardyce manages Bolton so Wednesdays game has nothing to do with him. I thought u were a pro footballer derrrrrrrrr!!
From rugmeister68 on Tue Nov 24 06:21PM
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Having said that this story is a load of cr ap, too many ridiculous empty statements to trash them all but...
I think that Liverpool have a very good chance of winning at Debrecen.FRIGGIN GENIOUS!
Liverpool have the ability to rise to the occasion when it really matters.
AGAIN, REALLY? DID IT NOT REALLY MATTER WHEN THEY WERE DROPPING TO 7TH AND OUT OF THE PREM RACE? OR ANY OF THE LOSES GETTING TO THIS STAGE IN THE GROUP?
It is difficult going into a game knowing that your destiny depends on another result, but that shouldn't affect the focus of the Liverpool players.
OF COURSE IT WILL YOU PLANK....
I cant go on any more, Murphy has been reading too much of parkers SH ite, they are both appaling idiots.
I can't believe the cockiness of the scousers, is it me or do they still believe that they are going through and it's still in there hands? scum, lets hope Fiorentina do the biz and put us all out of our misery//I'm not sure the pool will even be able to see off Debrecen tonight.
From rugmeister68 on Tue Nov 24 06:30PM
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Good article as always.
Crazier things have happened, let's go Reds and hopefully Lyon will get a result.
From michezo on Tue Nov 24 06:54PM
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Should Read..."GERRARD WILL DIVE TO THE OCCASION"
From plonkmorton on Tue Nov 24 07:19PM
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OH YES DANNY BOY LIVERFOOLS DID RISE TO THE OCCASION BUT SO DID FLORENTINA....NOW U CAN GO AND CRY AND EXPRESS UR SYMPATHIES WITH UR LOOSERFOOL FREAKS
From ryanmsd_90 on Wed Nov 25 01:20AM
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Ha Ha don`t think so! another season with nothing when go out of eroupa how embarrising again .
From colcfcgibb on Wed Dec 23 11:30PM
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