Skrtel: Liverpool fans can make the difference
Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel believes that their fans can make the difference in helping them overcome the 2-0 deficit against Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday.
By FOX Sports Staff
Liverpool go into the second leg of their round of 32 tie against Zenit two goals down after Hulk and Sergi Semak struck with two late goals in Russia.
Skrtel, who joined Liverpool from Zenit in 2008, believes that the Reds can turn things around with the help of fans to create an atmosphere at Anfield.
He told Liverpools official website: "The atmosphere at Anfield in European games is always special and the game on Thursday will be even more because we lost the first game and the crowd feel we need their help. I'm pretty sure they will help us.
"In football everything is possible. We'll play at Anfield - we know the fans will be behind us and they'll help us to get into the next round.
"It's not going to be easy but if we can get an early goal that will help us a lot. Then just try to play our game, create chances and take them. We believe we can beat them at home."
Skrtel is encouraged by the fact that Liverpool managed to create several opportunities in the first leg, which he feels is a cause for confidence that they can pull off a result on Thursday.
"It could be better. We lost the first leg 2-0 and that was not the best result for us," he continued.
"But we've still got to play at Anfield - as we lost there 2-0, the same can happen to them at Anfield. We still have a shot and we will do everything possible and try our best to get a result and get us to the next round.
"We controlled the game and created four or five chances. Unfortunately we couldn't take them and score a goal. That gives us belief for the next game - we created chances away so we'll definitely create them at home. We just need to take them."
Skrtel's return to Zenit last week was his first since leaving the club five years ago but he was disappointed that things did not go his current club's way.
"It was something special, and strange, because it was the first time since I left Zenit that I came back as a player for the other team," the 28-year-old explained.
"Apart from the result, I enjoyed everything about the game - I just feel bad about the result. We have one more game to play against them and I hope we can get the result."