Marseille in the mood to 'humiliate' defiant Rafa

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With co-owner George Gillett looking on from the stands and Liverpool needing victory to be sure of a place in the Champions League knock-out stages, Benitez faces the most critical 90 significance of Gillett's appearance for Liverpool's crucial Group A finale, insisting he was in Europe on business anyway and always planned to attend the game.

Point of order: Rafa Benitez during a Liverpool training session in Marseille yesterday

It will still do little to ease the strain on Benitez, just days ahead of his all-important meeting with Gillett and Tom Hicks, but the Liverpool manager shrugged off the daunting prospect of facing Marseille, Manchester United and Chelsea in the space of a week.

Asked if he felt under any more pressure after recent speculation about his position, he said: "No. I have said 100 times before that we have enough experience to handle these challenges.

"If you are fighting for trophies you must be under pressure but I am not feeling it any more than in other important games. Sure, this is an important week for us, but I was being asked the same question two months ago, then again last month. In another couple of months, it will be asked again because I'm confident we will get through and face more key European games.

"We have shown against Olympiakos and AC Milan in Europe and West Ham in the FA Cup Final that we thrive on pressure. We know how to play when we are up against it. If you want to win trophies, you have to turn it on in finals and this is a final for us."

Niang also aimed a swipe at Jamie Carragher, saying: "I've heard him claiming Liverpool are certain to score and win here, but it's the football that does the talking, not pre-match boasts."