Despite their shock 3-1 defeat at Reading on Saturday, as well as widespread rumours of in-house bickering behind the scenes at Anfield, skipper Steven Gerrard is convinced Liverpool can pick up the win they need in Marseille tomorrow to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League.
A victory in the Stade Velodrome will maintain a history of last-gasp fightbacks by the Merseysiders as they continue their habit of doing things the hard way in Europe.
When the French side stunned Liverpool with a 1-0 win at Anfield in October, followed by another setback against Besiktas, Rafa Benitez's men were facing a mountain to climb to progress from the group phase.
But successive Champions League victories have manoeuvred last year's beaten finalists to within touching distance of the lucrative knock-out stages – but only a win will do on French soil.
Gerrard said: "If you'd told me five minutes after the final whistle against Marseilles at Anfield we'd go into the last game knowing a win would secure our qualification, I'd have bitten your hand off with that offer.
"It was even worse when we lost to Besiktas. We knew then we had a real uphill struggle. But after our recent performances in the competition we know it's up to ourselves again. We are a different side and a lot more confident than the side which lost to Marseille at home."
Gerrard and his teammates have been in this position before – three years ago they needed to beat Olympiakos in their final group game and went a goal down before eventually triumphing 3-1.
He added: "Everyone remembers Olympiakos, so our experiences in the past will help. The big difference this time is we're not at home, so that's going to make it tougher.
"The pressure will be on Marseille as much as us this time. We know we're always expected to go through to the knock-out stage but, after they beat us at Anfield and we lost in Turkey, we weren't favourites to qualify.
"They must have hoped we'd be out of it by now and they'd already be through, but fortunately it hasn't turned out that way. For them not to be sure of going through after already beating us must worry them, so we've got to take advantage of the chance we've given ourselves."
And Gerrard is hoping star striker Fernando Torres can help fire the Reds to another famous Champions League win.
"Any club with ambitions to win major trophies needs a world-class striker and we know weve got that with Fernando. Hes exactly the kind of striker weve been looking for and, after waiting so long to play in this competition, I know how hungry he is to go further this year' said Gerrard.
"Everything is about winning this game now. The Christmas fixtures are always an important time so if we can come though this still fighting in all competitions, well have shown everyone what were capable of.'
