Valbuena says Marseille must not fear Liverpool

By Jean-Francois Rosnoblet

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - Olympique Marseille must have no fear when they host Liverpool in their Champions League Group D opener on Tuesday despite painful memories of the English club's last visit, said midfielder Mathieu Valbuena.

"We're full of confidence and must not show any inferiority complex," said Valbuena, who remembers Liverpool stormed through to the last 16 of European soccer's showcase event with a spectacular 4-0 win at the Velodrome stadium last December.

"We have no reason to be fearful," Valbuena, who returned to action this weekend after nursing a groin strain, told reporters.

"Liverpool are the favourites in the group and it's a good thing to start against them," added the playmaker, who scored a superb goal to make Marseille the first French club to beat Liverpool at Anfield in October last year.

Marseille should be at full strength with Valbuena and France winger Hatem Ben Arfa, who has recovered from a knee injury, both expected to start after coming on as substitutes in an entertaining 1-1 draw at Girondins Bordeaux on Saturday.

That result left the 1993 European champions undefeated after five Ligue 1 matches and second in the standings, two points behind champions Olympique Lyon.

Liverpool, second in the Premier League, boosted their morale by beating arch-rivals Manchester United 2-1 on Saturday to give manager Rafael Benitez his first league victory over United in his fifth season in charge at Anfield.

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