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Robert heeds Reds' final warning

SL Benfica winger Laurent Robert admits that Liverpool FC's stunning UEFA Champions League final comeback has given his side food for thought.

SL Benfica winger Laurent Robert admits Liverpool FC's stunning UEFA Champions League final comeback last season has made the Portuguese club extra cautious of success in their second-leg encounter with the European champions.

Precarious lead
Robert's team take a 1-0 lead to Anfield, courtesy of a late goal from defender Luisão in Lisbon, but the former French international believes that counts for little against Liverpool. The Reds' three-goal fightback against AC Milan in Istanbul is already a modern legend, and considering Liverpool's unbeaten sequence of 12 home games, Benfica's grip on this first knockout round tie begins to look precarious. "We know if we can score at Anfield then they will have to get three, but no one will have forgotten what happened last year," Robert told uefa.com. "It's never over and I will remind my team-mates that against an English side, you have to keep going until the final whistle."

English tenacity
The left-winger is no stranger to the never-say-die attitude displayed by English teams, following a four-year spell with Liverpool's Premiership rivals Newcastle United FC. A key man at St James' Park, he disappointed during a brief loan spell with Portsmouth FC before making a permanent move to Lisbon in January. He has since been in inspired form, scoring in Benfica's last two league games including a memorable winning strike against FC Porto.

Midfield marvels
"The Porto victory was huge for us and I was delighted to score the goal that gave us the points," the 30-year-old said. "I've hit a few free-kicks that I'm proud of, but this one was up there with the best of them." The goal helped resurrect Benfica's title ambitions, but for now Robert and company are focused on Liverpool. "They are a team with no weaknesses and goals can come from anywhere," he said. "Perhaps the main threat comes from midfield - we all know how good Steven Gerrard is, and he can make and score goals. And they've also got Xabi Alonso and Harry Kewell who are both playing well at the moment."

'No fear'
It would be easy for the visitors to sit back and try to defend their advantage, but Robert insists that would be dangerous. "Attack is the best form of defence so we mustn't simply defend. It would be dangerous to go to Anfield and play for a draw," he said. "It's crucial we don't concede an early goal and we have to remember that it's just another game, we have no fear of Liverpool."