Goals required at Riazor

By Richard Evans

RC Deportivo La Coruña welcome Liverpool FC to the Riazor on Matchday 4 comforted by the knowledge that a first win in this campaign would thrust them firmly back into contention to progress to the UEFA Champions League's knockout stages.

Goal shy
It will not, however, be an easy task for the Galician club who have yet to find the net in the Champions League this season. Javier Irureta's side will enter the fray on the back of a six-match unbeaten run for what will be a first encounter against the four-times European champions in La Coruna - and a first return to Spanish soil for former Valencia CF coach Rafael Benítez since his summer departure for England.

Rafael's brushstrokes
Irureta is under no illusions as to tonight's task. "If we want to qualify then we have to win both home matches. We all know how difficult this will be, as Liverpool has a very strong team. One can see Rafael Benítez hand behind it - the team is hard working, quick, strong and there's a lot of movement."

Cissé blow
Deportivo will, though, find a Liverpool team in a similar vein of form. The Merseysiders are five games unbeaten, but reeling from the loss of €21m France forward Djibril Cissé who will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a double fracture of his leg against Blackburn Rovers FC last Saturday. Despite the injury, Benítez is upbeat. "We need to win. Deportivo are a very good team at home. They are not playing that well at the moment and not scoring goals so I think they will change the team and play Diego Tristán," he said.

Tight at the top
A Liverpool victory however, in conjunction with a draw in France tonight between the group's top two sides, AS Monaco FC and Olympiacos CFP, could see Liverpool climb to the top of the group. Indeed none of the four teams are unbeaten in Europe though Deportivo, semi-finalists last season, must score for the first time in five Champions League games, to start to bridge the four-point gap between top and bottom.

Little encouragement
Deportivo have not conceded a goal at home in the Champions League since December 2002, but Deportivo's home record this season, just one win from five outings, gives little room for encouragement.

Big chance
Deportivo midfielder Aldo Duscher knows the game is a make or break occasion. "We saw two weeks ago in Liverpool how strong this team is. To win we have to continue reducing our mistakes and hold the ball. We feel the pressure but we also are used to this - we see the big opportunity to turn this difficult season into a new direction."

Short upfront
Benítez aside, tonight will be a first game back in Spain for Josemi, Xabi Alonso and Luis García since their summer transfers to Anfield. Xabi Alonso, in particular is expecting a tough encounter at a venue where he never won during his time with Real Sociedad de Fútbol, but has got a slight calf injury. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard remains an injury absentee while Deportivo will have midfielder Sergio available after suspension. Cissé's loss meanwhile leaves Milan Baroš as the sole forward with any degree of European experience.

Must convert chances
Liverpool will be keen to avoid a repeat of the Anfield tie when a blanket of possession and barrage of chances went unconverted as the game ended in stalemate. A draw again tonight would be unsatisfactory for both sides but a loss for Deportivo would leave any progress wholly at the mercy of others.