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EVRTON FC ;Benitez expects tight finish to trilogy

/noticias.info/ Rafael Benitez knows there is a fine line between victory and failure - but remains convinced Liverpool have what it takes to make it through to the Champions League semi-finals next week.

The Reds secured a second 1-1 draw at Arsenal in the space of four days, which severely dented the Gunners' Barclays Premier League title hopes.

"You know always that the small things can be the difference," said the Spanish coach. "When you play against the top sides, you know a player can change the game, or there can be a mistake in a free-kick, in a one-versus-one situation. At the end, the difference between the draws and the wins, or if you lose are the smaller things and the influence of the top-class players."

Should the two sides draw 1-1 again on Tuesday night and remain unable to be separated after extra-time, then the right to play either Chelsea or Fenerbahce in the semi-finals of Europe's elite club competition would be decided on spot-kicks.

While the Liverpool manager - whose men knocked Chelsea out on penalties to reach the final last season - insists the shoot-out is a "lottery", Benitez feels it comes down as much to keeping a cool head under pressure as it does natural talent.

"I believe sometimes it is more the heart than the quality of the players," said the Liverpool manager. "We will have some good players taking penalties, so I do not think we will practise too much.

"You know which players will be good when they are called from the halfway line. It is not just quality. It is important to be calm and to know what to do.

"When you talk about top-class players, with quality and experience in these situations. Sometimes they can be really good at 18, sometimes at 31 a player is not cool on penalties, so it depends on each one.

"I will not be thinking about penalties. We will be trying to use our experience during the game and not go to penalties." notas_de_prensa_archivo