Liverpool 3 - 1 PSV Eindhoven

Liverpool VS PSV Eindhoven
Dirk Kuyt (4') Danny Koevermans (78')
Robbie Keane (34')
Steven Gerrard (76')

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned of the danger of getting carried away with his team's impressive start to the season ahead of his 250th game in charge against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

The Reds are unbeaten in the Barclays Premier League and are only behind leaders Chelsea on goal difference having followed up a notable victory over Manchester United at Anfield with a 2-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Saturday.

After initially scraping past a resilient and impressive Standard Liege side in a difficult qualification tie, Liverpool began their Group D campaign with victory in Marseille.

Now they face PSV at Anfield knowing that another three points will put them well on the way to qualification for the knock-out stages.

It is a major change from their position at this point last season when Liverpool were seemingly doing all they could to be knocked out of the tournament with some dreadful, sloppy performances.

But with just two defeats in their last 29 games in all competitions - and one in their last 12 - the Reds are beginning to show signs that they could be serious contenders on several fronts and Benitez admitted that is a situation which slightly concerns him.

"When you are playing well and winning games, with everyone talking about how good you are, it is important to calm down and get people talking only about the next game,'' he said.

"It is a dangerous when you hear people talking well about your team, then we have to make sure we do not listen to what is being said but just concentrate on the future.

"But it is better to manage expectations, like we are, than be bottom of the table and trying to motivate players.''

Benitez will have key midfielder Javier Mascherano back from a calf injury to face the Eredivisie champions and has no other worries as he attempts to score another European victory, which would be the first time they have ever won their opening two group fixtures.

The problem now for the Spaniard is the rampant expectation that leads many to assume they will beat sides like PSV at home.

It does not help the Anfield coach's call for calm and concentration when Liverpool have such a good record against Eindhoven.

In 2006/07, on the way to the Athens final against AC Milan, Liverpool met the Dutch club four times in the competition.

The sides played out a goalless draw in Holland in the group stages with Liverpool winning the return 2-0, and they met again in the quarter-final with the Reds winning 3-0 away and by a one-goal margin at Anfield.

"PSV are a different side with a different manager and many players since the last time we played them in Europe,'' Benitez explained.

"Yes, we have beaten them at Anfield twice, but that is when things can be dangerous. People expect things to happen.

"The fact that PSV lost their opening group match to Atletico Madrid is also a problem for us.

"They have to get something here now and they will sit and defend and try to catch us on the counter-attack.

"Technically they are very good and they are equally impressive using such tactics. We must be very careful.

"Now when we are in a good situation, people are really happy, and everybody is expecting to see the team playing well and scoring goals. But I think it's more important to be concentrated to be focused and keep on winning.''

Benitez continued: "We had plenty of critics earlier in the season who said we were winning but not playing well. That is true, and we have plenty of room for improvement still.

"We are still suffering from players who have come back to us after a hard summer playing in the Euro 2008 finals.

"If we can continue to improve physically, I would be happier. Tactically the team is well organised and the players understand what they are doing.

"We just have to keep going this way and make sure that we do not experience what happened last season when we started out group matches badly.

"If we can win this one and then next in Madrid, we will be almost there. But you are always almost there until you finally achieve it, nobody can relax.


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