Benitez calls for calm as Red tide gathers pace

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

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

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 but Benitez wants to calm expectations.

“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 dangerous when you hear people talking well about your team, we have to make sure we do not listen 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 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 Benitez is the rampant expectation 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.

“The fact PSV lost their opening group match to Atletico Madrid is a problem for us. They have to get something here and they will sit and defend and try to catch us on the counter-attack.”