Read Stevies interview saying he'd have slapped you if you said they would qualify with a win tomorrow,
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N157978071209-1020.htmGERRARD: WE'LL SHOW OUR TRUE QUALITY
Paul Eaton 10 December 2007
Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool's history of heroic European fightbacks can help keep their Champions League dreams alive into the new year.
The Reds know they need to beat Marseille in France on Tuesday night to guarantee progress into the knock-out stages of the competition.
A draw will only be good enough if Besiktas can win in Porto, but Gerrard insists memories of the famous Olympicaos fightback and the never to be forgotten comeback in Istanbul can inspire Rafael Benitez's towards another momentous night in the Stade Velodrome.
"If you'd told me five minutes after the final whistle against Marseille at Anfield we'd go into the last game knowing a win would secure our qualification, I'd have bitten your hand off at that offer," said the skipper.
"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're a different side and a lot more confident than the one which lost to Marseille at home."
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, but we're playing good football, winning games and scoring goals.
"The pressure will be on Marseille as much as us this time. We know we're always expected to go through to the knockout 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 once must worry them, so we've got to take advantage of the chance we've given ourselves."
This won't be the first time the Reds have travelled to Marseille with their European future in the balance.
Back in 2004 Gerard Houllier's side crashed out of the UEFA Cup 3-2 on aggregate in the Stade Velodrome - and Gerrard is hoping to make amends this time around.
"I remember it was a great atmosphere in the stadium, but we were playing well and led 1-0 until Igor Biscan was sent off," he recalled.
"It was the first time Drogba was noticed by people in England. He scored in both legs.
"The Stade Velodrome is one of those arenas where the fans really get behind their team, but we're used to that and I'm sure we can cope.
"Although we took some criticism when we lost at home, they deserved credit for how they played.
"They'd just appointed a new manager and their lads performed like they had a lot to prove.
"We couldn't argue with the result because we weren't at our usual level. This time we determined to show them our true quality."
