We must be one of the Champions League favourites, says bullish Liverpool keeper Reina

Inter Milan, holders AC Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona are prospective opponents, while Sevilla could join the list should they finish top of their pool after tonight's matches.

Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina, however, said his side do not fear anyone in Europe, saying: "We know we will play a Spanish or an Italian team and it will be difficult.

"Playing the second game away will also be hard.

"But it is always a difficult competition and only the best can play in it. We trust ourselves - we have reached the final in two recent seasons so we have to be one of the favourites."

He added: "We have beaten Barca, Juventus, Chelsea (in recent seasons). These have been difficult games and we therefore have confidence in ourselves."

Reina also called on his team-mates to help relieve the boardroom tension that currently exists at the club by continuing their superb recent form on the pitch.

The much-publicised spat between manager Rafael Benitez and co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, which centres around the release of funds for the January transfer window, will come to a head this weekend when the parties meet.

Benitez can go into the talks armed with an amazing recent run of results - Saturday's defeat to Reading aside - that culminated in last night's stunning 4-0 win at Marseille which secured the Reds a place in the Champions League knockout stages.

That made it 25 goals in the last seven games for the Merseysiders, who are also well placed in the Barclays Premier League heading into Sunday's crucial clash with rivals Manchester United.

Benitez's position is surely not under threat after the results of the past month, and compatriot Reina has hailed his team-mates' ability to shut out the off-field issues and concentrate on what is happening on it.

"But all we can do is go out there to play and win - that is all. We are trying to play as well as we can on the pitch, and not worry about anything else.

"There are always things happening. But two weeks ago, we said to ourselves we must focus on our play and do our best on the pitch. That's what we are doing."

The club's players and supporters have rallied around Benitez in his time of need and arguably made his position even stronger, despite his public slanging match with the Reds' American owners.

Reina has ultimate faith in his boss, adding: "The manager has a cold mind - he knows what to do at any moment.

"We have showed everyone that people must trust us in what we are trying to do, and in these difficult situations. We have a great team. Now we have to compete at this high level in the Premier League now and play another 'final' against Manchester United."

The thrashing of Marseille will go down as another epic European night for the Anfield club.

Before last night, every English team who had come to the Stade Velodrome for a European fixture had gone home defeated - that included Liverpool following a UEFA Cup fourth-round clash in 2004.

But the class of 2007 made a mockery of that record, dominating from start to finish in a Champions League masterclass.

Goals by Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in the opening 11 minutes calmed any early nerves, and the Reds made the most of some embarrassing OM defending to add further efforts through Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel in the second half.

Benitez's men picked up just one point from their opening three games but three straight wins, during which the team scored 16 goals and conceded just one, rounded off an ultimately successful Group A campaign.

"The pressure is always there because we are Liverpool and with that, you must win every game," added Reina.

"We are favourites in every competition we play in and that brings its own pressure. It was a must-win game but we knew it was in our own hands.

"Because of the situation we were in, it was one of our best games in terms of completeness.

"We played well going forward and were compact in defence. In the end it was an easy game for us and we just have to keep this momentum going."