Struggling Liverpool must deliver

By Adam MacKinnon

Liverpool FC enter tonight's English League Cup semi-final second leg away to Watford FC holding a slender 1-0 lead and knowing that success in this tournament may offer their best route to Europe next season.

Three straight defeats
A dismal run of form has seen them lose their last three games including an ignominious defeat by Burnley FC in the third round of the FA Cup, and their current fifth position in the Premiership - seven points behind Everton FC in fourth - suggests that UEFA Champions League football in 2005/06 may elude them.

Benítez criticised
With the League Cup winners qualifying for the UEFA Cup, Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez, whose decision to rest players for the Burnley game was criticised in some quarters, is not underestimating the importance of the tie.

'Chance to put things right'
"In football sometimes you win but sometimes you lose. We are very disappointed, and me and the players feel the same as the supporters," said the Spaniard. "We have lost the last three games but we now have a chance to put things right. This is a good chance to get to a cup final and we go into the game with confidence."

Gerrard boost
Defender Sami Hyppiä is out with a thigh injury and winger Antonio Núñez is suspended, but the good news for Liverpool is that inspirational captain Steven Gerrard - whose goal divided the sides at Anfield - will play despite a slight hamstring worry.

'Wonderful situation'
Watford manager Ray Lewington, meanwhile, views the match as a tremendous opportunity to take the Championship team - England's second division - to a cup final and a step closer to a possible European spot. "I feel really excited like everyone else," Lewington said. "It's a wonderful situation to be in - going into the second leg of a semi-final with a realistic chance."

'Pressure on Liverpool'
Lewington also feels that Liverpool might be suffering from the weight of expectations: "Maybe it'll give them extra pressure knowing that they have to win this game. We'll meet them head-on in that respect - I don't think we'll be found wanting from the attitude point of view."

February date
Whoever wins will make the journey to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in February to contest the final against either Chelsea FC or Manchester United FC, who are set to battle out the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.