'Liverpool are dark horses'

By Brian Brownstein

Luis García believes Liverpool FC can qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season even if they lose out in the race for fourth place in the Premiership - by being crowned European champions in May.

Uphill task
With the Anfield club lying fifth in the English table, eight points behind city rivals Everton FC in the fourth and final Champions League qualifying place, victory in this season's competition may yet be the Reds' only route into the 2005/06 edition.

'A long way off'
"It's going to be difficult to catch Everton now," García told uefa.com. "Until it is mathematically impossible we will try, but I am praying we win the Champions League and it won't be an issue. Losing again at Newcastle [United FC] on Saturday was a very bad result because it means we are still a long way from fourth place."

Dark horses
Liverpool travel to Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen with a 3-1 first-leg lead in the Round of 16 - and García confident of holding that advantage to reach the quarter-finals. Should they progress, they can be dark horses to lift the trophy, according to the former FC Barcelona player.

Outside chance
"I hope we can produce another excellent performance like the one at Anfield in the first leg. If we go through, everybody else will be worried about Real Madrid [CF] or Chelsea [FC}. That's why I believe it could be our year in Europe.

Porto proof
"It could happen like it did with [FC] Porto," the 26-year-old added. "If they can win it, so can we. In football, many unpredictable things happen every season, so why shouldn't we believe we can go all the way. Liverpool have good players, experience, quality and a great manager. Why can't we lift the cup?"

Fortress Leverkusen
Nevertheless, García is aware of the task facing the Merseysiders at the BayArena. Leverkusen won all three home games in the group stage - scoring three goals in each - while Liverpool have a miserable away record in all competitions this term.

'Take great care'
"Their home record is superb, so we know it's going to be hard," he said. "They beat Madrid 3-0 which shows how good they can be on their own pitch. I expect Leverkusen to play a very attacking game because they need goals, and defensively our whole team will have to take great care for the whole 90 minutes.

Poor travellers
"Our away record has not been good all season, so I hope it doesn't let us down in Germany. If we approach the match in a calm way, trying to forget the pressure, I think we will be OK."

Late strike
Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek's error gave Leverkusen an away goal in injury time of the first leg, spoiling what would have been a perfect night for the four-time European Champion Clubs' Cup winners. However, García is backing the Polish international to make amends.

Goal chance
"Jerzy's mistake has made our task in Germany harder, but I am still sure we will go through. It would have been tougher for Leverkusen to score three goals than the two they need now, but I am confident we'll score an away goal anyway," he said. "But we don't blame Jerzy for their late goal. That has been forgotten. He is at Liverpool because he is a great goalkeeper."