Aldo: We can overhaul defecit

THE stage is set for an absolute cracker in the second leg of our Europa League tie against Benfica at Anfield next Thursday, writes Kop hero John Aldridge.

I'd say we have a slight edge after the first leg thanks to that away goal but it's very well balanced.

We have the edge with the away goal but they are a good side with some quality players and won't sit back. They will come to Anfield and try to score because that's the way they play.

It is only the consolation cup but it is getting tasty now and it's going to be a great European night.

The first leg was frustrating. Rafa Benitez was right to say what he did about the referee because he simply wasn't up to it.

The official was certainly swayed by the atmosphere inside the ground.

We couldn't have any complaints with the two penalties but the treatment dished out to Fernando Torres was a disgrace.

The tackle by Luisao that led to the sending off of Ryan Babel was cynical.

It was clear Benfica were out to rough Torres up and they got away with it.

To put your hand in the face of an opposition player once you are taking a risk, but to do it twice like Babel did was just stupidity.

Maybe a referee in this country would have given him a slap on the wrist but not in Europe.

But the fact is Luisao should have gone for that tackle and the way he reacted after the incident. If both him and Babel had gone there would have been no complaints.

Decisions didn't go our way and after the way we were treated over there I'm expecting our players to be right up for it at Anfield.

The likes of Torres and Gerrard will be desperate to put one over them and hopefully we'll have a far better referee.

TOMORROW'S clash at St Andrews is Liverpool's biggest game of the season.

Our away form has been so poor this season with just four wins from 16 games but if we're going to get into the Champions League we have to change that.

We need one big victory on the road to give us the belief to go on and win our other two away games at Burnley and Hull.

Tomorrow has to be that game. It's massive. Win and we are right back in the hunt for fourth place. Anything less and we will need a miracle.

Between now and the end of the season we can maybe afford to draw one game but we have to win the rest.

Birmingham's home form has been really good.

They would love to put one over us but we have to show character to get the result we so desperately need.

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