Capello predicts Liverpool backlash

LONDON, England -- England manager Fabio Capello has warned Serie A leaders Inter Milan to expect a backlash when they face Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday.

Liverpool crashed out of the FA Cup to second-flight Barnsley at the weekend and have been in lackluster form in the Premier League, but Capello believes that in Europe they are a different proposition.

He told Italian radio: "Liverpool, when playing in the Champions League, transforms itself.

"At home they have a lot of support and that's why they must be taken very seriously."

Rafa Benitez's side have reached the final of Europe's premier competition twice in the last three years -- winning in 2005 -- and the Spaniard desperately needs them to repeat this year as he comes under pressure for his job.

He responded to renewed speculation about his future on Monday by saying he was determined to salvage Liverpool's season by reaching the Champions League final for the third time in four years.

"I have been working (as a coach) for 21 years now. I have good memories and bad memories," said Benitez.

"But my commitment to the club is 100 per cent without doubt. We need to keep going. It's the only way we're going to change things."

Asked to respond to newspaper reports which stated that he needs to win the Champions League to save his job, Benitez added: "I don't know too many managers who have won the Champions League twice.

"There's not that many who have won it once. Tell me if you know who has won it twice. It's the Press talking about this.

"Let me make it clear.

"Everybody has to be disappointed with what happened on Saturday, but we can't change that result.

"We have to try and progress in the Champions League as much as we can and fight for fourth position in the Premier League.

"We will fight until the end."

Benitez said the visit of Inter gave his players a perfect opportunity to flush away the disappointment of the weekend.

Inter are 11 points clear at the top of the table and unbeaten in 23 league games this season.

In contrast, Liverpool are 19 points off the pace in the Premier League and are struggling to finish fourth in the table.

Yet Benitez insisted he was relishing Tuesday's match. He said Liverpool were in an almost identical situation to last season when they faced Barcelona as under-dogs yet went on to reach the final.

"When you lose it's important to have a game a few days later," he said. "Inter Milan are a fantastic team but if we can beat them then everybody will be really happy.

"They are top of the table, a top side in Europe, but this game gives us an opportunity to change things.

"We were the underdogs against Barcelona and we were playing against a fantastic team. It's very similar this time.

"In this competition you do not need to say too much to your players because they know how important it is."

Liverpool can call on 18-goal leading scorer Fernando Torres. The Spanish striker was not 100 per cent fit to face Barnsley on Saturday but will spearhead the attack against the Italians while captain Steven Gerrard will also return to the midfield.

Meanwhile Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher says the team's problems run deep and that they must re-discover their best form quickly.

"I wouldn't call this just a bad spell," Carragher said.

"It's been a lot longer than that. We realize we are not playing well enough. It's not a matter of putting your finger on one reason.

"It's simply because we have not been good enough. We've still got the Champions League to play for and we have to fight for that fourth place, so every league game is going to be important. We have to make sure we are in the Champions League next season." E-mail to a friend