Defiant Jamie Carragher has called on Liverpool to rediscover the spirit of 2005 to haul themselves out of a deep Champions League hole.
The tough defender has been part of a Liverpool side who have lost key group matches to Marseille and now Besiktas, with just the point gained in Porto to their name this term.
For the five-time European Cup winners, who pride themselves on their foreign achievements, Liverpool are rushing head-long towards the sort of disaster that defines and wrecks careers.
After the horror of Istanbul that leaves them bottom of Champions League Group A and facing 'relegation' to the UEFA Cup - or even being dumped out of Europe completely - the beaten finalists of six months ago are facing humiliation.
The 2-1 defeat by Besiktas, in the city that staged Liverpool's greatest triumph in modern times two years ago when they claimed a fifth European Cup, has left boss Rafael Benitez and his squad stunned.
They are facing an exit from Europe's elite competition just as Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are all confidently marching on towards the knockout stages and the last 16.
Liverpool had 28 attempts on goal against Besiktas, but only after Steven Gerrard's late header did they look capable of a salvage operation.
Now Carragher says: "I do not accept that there was much wrong with our performance in Istanbul, we were just unlucky in their penalty box. We feel we did not get what we deserved. But look back to 2005 and the group stages. We did not do particularly well then, but ended up winning it. Now we must show that sort of spirit. We went to the last group game then and got ourselves out of it. So it looks like we are going to have to do the same again."
Back in 2005, Liverpool managed to lose two group games against Monaco and Olympiakos and claim a scrappy drawn with Deportivo la Coruna.
All seemed lost ahead of the final home game with Olympiacos, but a dramatic fightback with goals from Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Neil Mellor and Gerrard produced an historic comeback.
They ended up winning the trophy that season, and now Carragher accepts that it will take that level of heroics to see Liverpool through this crisis.
He said: "We are not thinking about the UEFA Cup, we are still going for it in the Champions League. Win three games and we are through. You want to stay in the Champions League because it is a bigger trophy, but we have got great memories of the UEFA Cup and if we end up there we will try to win that instead. We cannot be too disappointed, we played the right way and dominated in Istanbul."
Liverpool now have the return with Besiktas in a fortnight, followed by Porto at Anfield and the potential for last-night heroics in Marseille in their last group game in December.
Carragher said: "We did it once before and we can do it again. It could well go right to the wire of that last game in Marseille. I am not down one bit, we must go into the Arsenal game in the league on Sunday with confidence because the only thing wrong in Istanbul was our finishing."
There has been plenty of criticism of Liverpool's display in Turkey, with claims they lacked direction, team spirit and drive.
But Carragher said: "It was a disappointing result, I felt the lads showed great commitment and we are proud of the way we played. We have three games left and we have to go for it. We deserved more, we had so many shots on goal. Conceding that first goal just made things more difficult. We kept going, but to have 28 attempts away from home in the Champions League showed how well we played. But it is another bad result in Europe, we can't hide from that. What it does is put more pressure on us for the final three games. We have nothing to lose now, we just have to go for it."
He added: "We must only look to beating Besiktas next, then go from there. It might take three more wins and probably will, but we have a team here capable of going anywhere in Europe and winning. We must make sure we are still in with a chance when we go to Marseille in the last match."
Boss Benitez, who might soon have to answer some tough questions from the club's American owners, said: "We had three chances before they scored. We kept attacking even after they scored. Our possession and shots were very high, and we created so much. It was our poor accuracy and their good keeper. It was as simple as that. The atmosphere was outstanding, but we should have had the quality to overcome that. Now we have two games at Anfield where our support will be just as powerful. We must stay calm, not get too worried about losing one or two matches. But in Europe you cannot make mistakes, and we needed to score the first goal."
22 October 2007
Lyon stopper Sebastien Squillaci is eager to atone for consecutive 3-0 Champions League defeats at the hands of first Barcelona and then Rangers.
The 27 year old told UEFA.com, "We know that if we want to qualify then we need to win both matches against Stuttgart. We knew this group would be difficult from the outset and already we've made it very difficult for ourselves, so it's up to us to make up for what we couldn't manage previously."
Indeed, the 3-0 loss at Barcelona wasn't much of a surprise, but being buried at home 3-0 by Rangers came as a massive shock.
Squillaci maintains that the result did not adequately reflect the balance of play.
"Rangers hadn't even had a shot on goal when they won that corner, and our poor marking gave them a goal," he wailed.
"We were 1-0 down against a team that defended in numbers. We couldn't find a way back and ended up being punished for needless errors. At this level of football, everyone knows that you can't get away with mistakes, and Rangers proved it."
Many feel that Lyon are weaker than in seasons past, with this being to blame for their poor start to the Ligue 1 campaign and continued European difficulties.
"True enough, we've lost some players of real pedigree, which has made things more difficult," agreed the ex-Monaco man.
"We've got some great players still, but they need time. For an old example, there's [Florent] Malouda. When he arrived here he needed time to settle but, when he did, he had some amazing seasons, so perhaps we just need patience. We need to play together to gel and find our rhythm, so we need time. But with a club like Lyon, you don't have six months to find your feet!"
Squillaci signed on at the Stade Gerland from the Monegasques in 2006, having previously served Ajaccio and Toulon.
21 October 2007
Liverpool have emerged as front runners to sign Simon Kjaer, one of the most highly-rated teenage talents in Europe.
The 18-year-old defender has been courting interest from Europe's top clubs with some fine performances for Danish club FC Midtyjlland.
Real Madrid are among the clubs tracking the defender's progress, but it is believed Liverpool have jumped to the head of the queue after sending scouts to watch the player.
Agent Mikkel Beck told The Sunday Sun: "You realise how special this kid is when Liverpool watch him and tell you he's good enough to play in their first team. Messi, Rooney, Dos Santos - he is special like them. Lille and Monaco were the first to show an interest, then Real made a much better offer and it was turned down. He is worth a lot more."
16 October 2007
Arsenal's Armand Traore has turned down the chance of a loan move in the belief his continuing improvement will be better served by staying with the Gunners.
The left-back - who only turned 18 last week but is said by Arsenal captain William Gallas to have "monster potential" - has already scored twice for the reserves this term.
He also produced an eye-catching performance when called up for Carling Cup duty against Newcastle in a 2-0 win last month.
And although he accepts that a loan move may still be beneficial one day he revealed: "I have spoken with the boss (Arsene Wenger) and he has said the position of official second-choice left-back is there for me. It doesn't mean it will be always there, though. So I must just keep trying hard in training and when I am asked to play, just show that I can do it."
Traore played regularly in the League Cup competition last season - including the final defeat by Chelsea.
Coca-Cola Championship Charlton are thought to be one of the clubs willing to take Traore - who signed from Wenger's former team Monaco at the start of last season - on loan and give him first-team experience.
But he added on his club's official website: "I think I am going to stay at Arsenal and still try to keep improving every day in training. I wanted to do that rather than go on loan, but when I speak to the manager (in future) and he tells me that it has to be done, then of course it will be done."
15 October 2007
John Arne Riise could be on his way out of Anfield after John Carew revealed his fellow Norwegian wants to leave Liverpool.
Riise, who is playing his eighth season with The Reds, was the recent subject of an alleged £7 million bid by Aston Villa for the left back's services.
The 27-year-old has become a firm favourite on The Kop since joining from Monaco, winning The Champions League, Uefa Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup during his time on Merseyside.
However, for the first time in his Liverpool career Riise's place in the starting line-up has come under threat this season, with Alvaro Arbeloa nudging the Norwegian out of the left back spot.
Riise will undoubtedly still play a major role in Liverpool's season, but Carew admits his compatriot wants away from Anfield.
"It seems like John Arne wants to go, so I can't see why not," Carew told Dagbladet when asked about a potential link-up at Villa Park.
"There is a possibility. He would fit in very well at Villa, so that would be a positive."
Riise's potential arrival at Villa would provide pressure for Wilfred Bouma, who currently inhabits the left back role under Martin O'Neill.
04 October 2007
France Coach Raymond Domenech has left Patrick Vieira out of his squad for October's Euro 2008 qualifiers and continues to snub David Trezeguet.
Les Bleus are under pressure after losing to Scotland in September, but they are expected to claim six comfortable points when they face the Faroe Islands and Lithuania.
Vieira is struggling with fitness after being selected for the matches against Italy and Scotland last month and is yet to feature for Inter this term.
'It seems wiser to let Vieira rest and get himself back into shape,' Domenech explained. 'For the last games he wanted to be there at all costs, but this time he seemed less determined.'
Surprisingly, Domenech has left the free-scoring Trezeguet out of his 23-man squad in a decision that is likely to be linked to the pair's tempestuous relationship.
'It pays to have competition,' the ex-Monaco tactician insisted. 'There are lots of strikers and so I have to make my choice.'
France squad: Goalkeepers: Frey (Fiorentina), Landreau (PSG), Rame (Bordeaux)
