Liverpool take nothing for granted
Monday, August 1, 2005
Article summary
Liverpool FC and FC Artmedia Bratislava are in pole position tonight to reach the third qualifying round.
Article body
Surprise result
The shockwaves from Artmedia's 5-0 defeat of another British team, Celtic FC, in Slovakia a week ago should provide sufficient impetus to ensure holders Liverpool do not underestimate FBK Kaunas at Anfield.
Lead achieved
Djibril Cissé, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard handed the European champions a 3-1 lead going into the second leg. However, with Djimi Traoré, Harry Kewell, Neil Mellor and Florent Sinama-Pongolle out, work must be done to ensure an encounter with either KF Tirana of Albania or PFC CSKA Sofia, with the Bulgarian champions leading 2-0 in one of 12 ties to be completed tomorrow.
Unprecedented feat
Meanwhile, Celtic prepare for the visit of Artmedia in tonight's other fixture bidding to do what no side has ever done in the European Champion Clubs' Cup - overturn a 5-0 first-leg deficit. Embattled manager Gordon Strachan already has fans calling for his head after the club's worst-ever European defeat.
Playing for pride
While Celtic look to mollify the critics with a convincing win, Artmedia will be happy with any result that sees them through to the next round, where they will take on either Serbo-Montenegrin side FK Partizan or Moldova's FC Sheriff, with the latter side needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit.
