Benitez's Red army ready for giant test in Champions League knockout phase

Rafa Benitez had hailed his side's performance as 'almost perfect' and could have used the same description for a return of nine points from three Champions League games which dragged his side back from the brink of elimination.

Liverpool rounded off their great escape with a 4-0 rout of Marseille and suddenly nobody was mentioning the indignity of propping up Group A at the halfway mark.

They may start to, though, as the realisation dawns that frittering away points in Istanbul and, even more culpably, at home to Marseille has left them at the mercy of Real Madrid, Barcelona or one of the Milan giants in the last 16 draw.

That is the daunting prospect for Liverpool under UEFA's rule preventing teams from the same country meeting at this last 16 stage.

As group winners, they might have been drawn against Olympiakos or Schalke, but, after finishing a point behind Porto, they find their path to the quarter-finals barred by some of Europe's biggest names.

Recent history, at least, provides grounds for optimism after the way Liverpool stunned AC Milan in the Final two-and-a-half years ago, and ran them close again last May after dispatching Barcelona in style in the knockout stages.

Fernando Torres, at least, knows who he would like after once snubbing a move to Real out of loyalty to fierce city rivals Atletico. 'I hope we draw Real,' he said after scoring a brilliant solo goal against Marseille.

'It would be better to play a Spanish side, though it would not be bad to meet Milan and gain some revenge for last season's final.'

Jamie Carragher pinpointed fellow Scouser Steven Gerrard's inspirational form as a reason for believing Liverpool can continue to defy the odds after seeing his skipper overtake Michael Owen as the club's record scorer in Europe with 23 goals.

'He is one of the best in the world,' he said. 'At the moment, I would put him in the top four or five and I feel he will go down alongside Kenny Dalglish as one of the greatest players ever to turn out for Liverpool.'

Such is Liverpool's list of conquests since Benitez took over as manager that goalkeeper Pepe Reina is convinced they should no longer be considered underdogs against any opposition.

'It is a Spanish or Italian side next up, and we know how difficult that is going to be,' he said.

'But, after reaching two finals in the last three seasons, we have to be one of the favourites.

'We've beaten Barcelona, Juventus, Chelsea and Milan in this competition. So, tough though it will be, we ought to be optimistic.'

While Marseille asked few questions, co- owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are likely to pose plenty when they sit down with Benitez in the next day or two and seek an explanation for his agitating over transfer funds.