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Liverpool coach well aware Porto can ruin route to Champions League final
LONDON (AFP) - Rafa Benitez has set Liverpool a 12-point target as last season's Champions League runners-up start their bid to reach a third final in four years at Porto on Tuesday.
Benitez believes Liverpool can guarantee qualification for the knockout stages if they take a dozen points from their six Group A matches against the Portuguese champions, Marseille and Besiktas.
The Spanish coach is well versed in the demands of Europe's elite club competition after winning the trophy in 2005 and leading the Reds back to the final in May.
Liverpool should be strong enough to reach the last 16 without too many alarms, but Tuesday's match may well be their toughest assignment of the first phase.
Benitez knows Porto have the ability to pose his side plenty of problems at the Dragao Stadium, so a win would set the tone for the rest of the campaign.
"We could need around 12 in this group. I cannot say because sometimes you can pass through with fewer points. I want to be sure so I think 12 would be better than 10," Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"Porto have quality, players with ability. The workrate in the middle is important for them and also they have experience.
"They are a difficult team to play against, even more so because of the atmosphere in the stadium. It will be really difficult for us."
While Benitez would love to erase the bitter memories of last season's defeat to Milan in Athens, he has made no secret of his desire to end Liverpool's 18-year wait to win the English league title.
With that domestic ambition in mind it was surprising Benitez started without Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel for his side's goalless draw at Portsmouth on Saturday.
Such a pragmatic decision shows how much regard Benitez has for Porto.
Gerrard's broken toe shouldn't stop him featuring, but Xabi Alonso, Steve Finnan and Alvaro Arbeloa face fitness tests after suffering knocks at Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
If Benitez brings Torres back it will be a memorable moment for the Spain striker.
Torres has never played a European club match after spending his career until this season at success-starved Atletico Madrid.
The prospect of testing himself against the best in the Champions League was a major incentive for Torres to swap his boyhood favourites Atletico for Anfield.
"Everyone wants to play in Europe, to be among the greats," Torres said. "I did not come here because of money, I came for the challenge and the chance to win things and I believe I can do that with Liverpool.
"The chance to play in the Champions League and with great players is what matters. I want to contribute with my goals."
Few teams can match Liverpool's haul of five European Cups, but Porto have an impressive pedigree of their own after winning the competition in 1987 and 2004.
They enjoyed the ideal preparation for Liverpool's visit with a 1-0 win over Maritimo, thanks to a second half goal from Lisandro Lopez, that sent them top of the league.
Jesualdo Ferreira's side will take further heart from their impressive home record of never having lost at home to English opponents in nine fixtures, including a UEFA Cup goalless draw against Liverpool in 2001.
Ricardo Quaresma will be a key figure if Porto are to extend that run.
The Portugal winger's conviction that Porto can mount a serious European challenge persuaded him stay at the Dragao and now he wants to make good on his side's potential.
"I know there was some talk about me leaving Porto during the summer, but my dream is to be a European champion with this club. Porto were champions in 2004, so let's try again."
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