This is what comes of a backward step. One year ago today Liverpool supporters danced around the Bernabéu after Yossi Benayoun's late header added Real Madrid to their litany of conquests among the European elite. Tonight it is Bucharest, Unirea Urziceni and the Europa League: the signposts of a miserable 12-month journey.
The assignment would not reflect so badly on Rafael BenÃtez's team but for the anniversary that illustrates the tortuous road travelled since, although they require no reminder themselves. Liverpool's approach in the first meeting with the Romanian champions provided little immediate evidence of complacency towards the competition, only a shortage of answers to an obstinate defence, but the timing of the return provides a test of their focus.
"There is obviously a contrast between the Real Madrid game and the game in Bucharest now, but that is football and you cannot be too disappointed," admitted Benayoun, whose return from rib and back problems against Manchester City on Sunday brings hope of greater invention tonight. "We have been an important team, a big team in the Champions League in recent seasons. Hopefully, we will finish in the top four in the Premier League and be back in it next season.
"For us it is still a very important game. Of course we wanted to be in the Champions League group stages but now we have to concentrate on the league and the Europa League. We won 1-0 last week and we have the advantage and have to finish things off. We are playing for a title which would be important. It gives us a chance to do something positive this season."
The Liverpool manager mentioned Benayoun and Fernando Torres in the same breath yesterday as he responded to criticism over his caution at City but conceded that, with the Israel captain and the Spanish striker available again, they should be more expansive in coming games. It was a mark of how deeply BenÃtez has missed Benayoun since January and also the midfielder's rise since that personal landmark in Madrid.
"For me it was a special moment," he recalls. "Firstly to score a goal with my head in the Bernabéu was special because it is not the strongest part of my game. Personally, I think that game changed my Liverpool career. The goal gave me a lot of confidence and I think since then I have played a lot better for Liverpool. It was definitely the defining moment of my career. I had played good games and bad games before this, but really after this goal I started playing better and better."
Torres is expected to be among the substitutes at the Steaua Stadium which hosts Unirea's home games in Europe as their 7000-capacity Tineretului Stadium does not meet Uefa standards. The relocation did not hinder the Romanians in the Champions League group stage – when they drew at home with Stuttgart and Rangers before beating Sevilla – but Liverpool's recent record of just two goals in their last seven away games suggests the Spaniard may not remain on the bench all evening.
"One-nil is not the best result but it is a good result if we can score here," said BenÃtez, whose side required an 81st-minute goal from David Ngog for their first-leg advantage. "At home we created three or four clear chances but their keeper played well. The Romanian press were critical of them for being too defensive and positive about us. In England it was the other way around! But we know we can score against them and we know they have to attack if they want to change things which will give us more space to exploit. With Yossi coming back, Torres back, Babel, Kuyt and Gerrard we have more offensive players and hopefully it can be better."
Unirea Urziceni (4-1-4-1): Arlauskis; Maftei, Galamaz, Fernandes, Munteanu; Paraschiv; Onofras, Paduretu, Apostol, Frunza; Bilasco.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina; Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Insúa; Mascherano, Lucas; Benayoun, Gerrard, Babel; Kuyt.
Referee S Johannesson (Sweden)
