Mathieu Valbuena has warned his Marseilles teammates that Liverpool will be a far tougher proposition in their crunch Champions League tie tomorrow than their first meeting in October. Valbuena’s match-winning goal when the teams met at Anfield means that Liverpool must win at the Stade Vélodrome to pip the French club to a place in the knockout phase.

Valbuena, speaking after Saturday’s 2-0 league win over AS Monaco, is taking nothing for granted. “On Tuesday we have a very important opportunity for the club,” he said. “We know how talented Liverpool are - we caught them cold. They are not going to come in the state they were for the first match.

“We will be vigilant and will have to play at an intense pace. We need to prepare for this match well. They [Liverpool] can beat anyone.”

Marseilles climbed three places to thirteenth in the French league after beating AS Monaco in a bad-tempered match at the Stade Vélodrome on Saturday. Julien Rodriguez, the defender, made the breakthrough with a header after 52 minutes when Benoît Cheyrou’s strike bounced off the bar. Lorik Cana, the captain, sealed the victory with a header from a corner in the 70th minute.

Marseilles will progress to the knockout phase of the Champions League if they win and they can also qualify with a draw if Besiktas do not beat FC Porto in Portugal. Liverpool will qualify if they win tomorrow or if they draw and Besiktas beat Porto.