European greats jostle for top in Champions League

England striker Peter Crouch received the backing of Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez before tonight's Champions League tie when Group G rivals Chelsea are also in action.

Crouch, set to lead the attack at Anderlecht today, has endured much public criticism but Benitez said he would score freely once he got the required service.

Chelsea Jose Mourinho, whose side hosts Real Betis led by Mourinho's former colleague Lorenzo Serra Ferrer today, like Liverpool know that three points would set them well on course for the knockout stages.

Should Liverpool win in Brussels, along with Chelsea beating Real Betis at Stamford Bridge, the two English clubs in the group would be virtually through.

Certainly Liverpool are able to win one of their final three matches -- two being at home to Betis and Anderlecht -- the route to the next stage will be assured.

Benitez made it clear he fully supports signing Crouch in the face of continued criticism, and the return of Harry Kewell to the squad in Europe will be one major step in the right direction of getting the best out of the England hitman.

Benitez "Our problem is that we need to work better for Peter, with more crosses and the same applies to Fernando Morientes. We must get players to the by-line to provide crosses for them."

"At the moment we do not have such players fit, but when Harry Kewell is back then that is a possibility for us. We are trying to improve this situation, because of the style that is better for him," he said.

Mourinho, meanwhile, no longer believes Champions League success comes more easily to those who finish top of their group.

He has continually repeated that nine points would guarantee a place in the knockout stages and while he set his sights on finishing top of the group in last year's competition, the reward was a controversial tie with Spanish giants Barcelona.

Chelsea level on four points after two games with Liverpool and victory over Real Betis would put them within two points of his target.

"First of all it is important to qualify -- being first or second in the group last season proved that means nothing," Mourinho said.

"We were champions in our group and got Barcelona, maybe the best team in Europe at that time. Unless you are very lucky to get an easy team because you are first in the group, normally it means nothing," he said.

But Mourinho's task of getting a positive result may well be affected by the loss of winger Damien Duff following cartilage surgery which will sideline him for up to five weeks.

AC Milan, who heartbreakingly threw away a three-goal lead in last year's final, host PSV Eindhoven in Group E in confident mood. Their 2-0 victory over Cagliari at the weekend put them within five points of leaders Juventus after an early season slump.

Real Madrid's Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who has a twisted left ankle, has been ruled out of the Spanish giants' home match against Rosenborg of Norway.

The Spanish first division club, kings of Europe on nine occasions, said on Monday that Ronaldo would need a month for a complete recovery but might return for the league clash against Barcelona on Nov. 20.

The three-times World Player of the Year was hurt, and stretchered from the field, during injury time at the end of Real's 3-0 win over local rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

And Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado hurt his left thigh in the same match and will be out of action for 10 days, meaning he misses the Rosenborg match and the next two league games.

Lyon Gerard Houllier must do without striker Pierre-Alain Frau at home to Greeks Olympiakos in the other Group F game. Frau missed the French league match against Ajaccio on Sunday and his calf injury problem has not yet cleared up.

Fixtures

Group E: Fenerbahce (TUR) v Schalke 04 (GER); AC Milan (ITA) v PSV Eindhoven (NED)

Group F: Real Madrid (ESP) v Rosenborg (NOR); Lyon (FRA) v Olympiakos (GRE)

Group G: Anderlecht (BEL) v Liverpool (ENG); Chelsea (ENG) v Real Betis (ESP)

Group H: FC Porto (POR) v Inter Milan (ITA); Rangers (SCO) v Artmedia Bratislava (SVK).