Benitez: Reaching group stages is in balance

Rafael Benitez promised that Liverpool would be a much better side in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier, but still rates his side’s chances of reaching the group stages as only “50-50”.

After their 2-1 third qualifying round first-leg victory over Maccabi Haifa at Anfield, thanks to a late goal from debutant Mark Gonzalez, Benitez knows more than £10m (€14.8m) of UEFA money for reaching the group stages hangs by a thread.

He said: “The second leg will be tough. I said Haifa were a good side and now people will believe me.

“In this game we had several of our top players with 15 days less training than the rest because of their late comeback from the World Cup.

“But in 15 or so days' time we will be a lot better and a lot fitter for the second leg. That will be a different game.

“Haifa were a well-organised side who defended well and played on the counter-attack. Now we are ahead they will have to attack more in the second game and that will give us more opportunities.

“But I do not think we have much of an advantage. No more than 50-50. It will be very tough.”