Graphic: Marseilles v Liverpool

Rafael Benítez’s job was on the line and his team’s Champions League ambitions hanging in the balance the last time Liverpool visited Marseilles. Nine months on, everything may still be far from rosy in the Anfield garden, but the manager was at least breathing a little easier as he returned to the South of the France for Liverpool’s opening Champions League game this evening.

Indeed, Marseilles must provide bittersweet memories for Benítez. On the one hand, it offers an unwanted reminder of the darkest days of his Liverpool reign; on the other, it signifies the fighting qualities that have enabled the Spaniard to survive the Anfield soap opera this long.

Defeat in the Stade Vélodrome last December would not only have led to Liverpool’s elimination from the Champions League group stage, it could just as easily have resulted in Benítez collecting his P45, with Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the controversial co-owners, having already targeted Jürgen Klinsmann, the former Germany coach, as his replacement.

Having dodged those bullets with a resounding 4-0 victory, Benítez’s ride has not been without its bumps since, but buoyed by a morale-boosting victory over Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League at the weekend, the manager’s mood could not have been more different than during that winter of discontent.

“It was a difficult time for me but I did not let it get to me,” Benítez said. “When people are saying things about your position you know you can’t change anything by talking about it yourself. The only way to deal with it is by working harder than ever and making sure you get the best out of your players.

“That is how I approached things when we went to Marseilles last season and you saw the response from the team. They played really well and got the result we needed.”

After Liverpool’s 2-1 win against United at Anfield on Saturday, Benítez has been quick to guard against a possible hangover from the euphoria of a first league victory in nine attempts against the champions. Liverpool have been accused of being perfectly prepared for European assignments but lacking focus domestically under Benítez and the manager is eager to ensure that the opposite is not in evidence this evening. “We were talking about this and I’ve told the players to only look forward,” he said. “The United game can be a big boost for us but we need to concentrate on the Champions League now.”

Nor does Benítez think that he can stomach another nip-and-tuck affair in Europe like last season, when Liverpool recovered from taking only one point from a possible nine — including a 1-0 defeat by Marseilles at Anfield — to win their final three games. “We have learnt from last season that it is important to starting winning straight away, especially at home,” he said. “Losing at home made a massive difference to the group last season, but we will be better for that experience now.”

Benítez is likely to have a few selection dilemmas with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in contention to start. Torres, who was an unused substitute against United, could come in for Robbie Keane, with Benítez possibly opting to play Gerrard behind the Spain striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Having impressed once again as an impact substitute, scoring the winning goal on Saturday, Ryan Babel could also be afforded a starting role at the expense of Albert Riera, while Andrea Dossena will replace Fabio Aurélio, who suffered a calf strain against United. Javier Mascherano, the Argentina midfield player, has been passed fit despite being forced off against United because of cramp.