Smith: Lille will Kop red hot welcome

IF the atmosphere at Anfield on Monday night was muted to begin with – then get set for a very different one tonight, writes Tommy Smith.

Because I expect the Kop to be in full voice again to help Liverpool terrorise Lille.

Teams like Inter, Juventus and Chelsea have all felt the full force of the Liverpool's famous twelfth man in European competition in the past.

And if teams of their repute have been terror struck by it, then I've no doubt it can put the jitters up the French side tonight.

A vastly improved performance against Portsmouth - where we could have scored eight or nine - gave the supporters a big lift after the blow of losing so poorly at Wigan.

I know Pompey are a bottom of the league side and a club in administration, so any Liverpool side should beat them comfortably at home.

But with good performances all over the pitch from all the men in red, including a really promising midfield display from Alberto Aquilani, it has given the fans who have been through so much this season - but never stopped backing the team - a real lift.

I hope tonight the lads tear at them from the kick off and wipe their lead out really early. I'm not disrespecting Lille - they've got a couple of decent players and we'll have to keep our eye on Eden Hazard, who scored in the first leg.

But we've got more than enough to deal with them. If Steven Gerrard has had his off days this season then he was terrific against Portsmouth.

Fernando Torres too is almost back to his sharpest best. And with a world class star like that in your front line - and Ryan Babel suddenly showing real improvement - I'm sure we'll do them tonight.

Particularly if the Kop turn up the volume as I'm certain they will to hopefully help us blow the visitors away.

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