UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Liverpool prepare to face Marseille in Champions League

Benitez says Marseille will be difficult to beat. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard took part in training on Tuesday (October 2) after visiting the hospital bedside of a 10-year-old boy he knocked down in his car. Gerrard gave a signed England shirt and boots to a "speechless" Jamie Hellawell who is recovering from the collision. The youngster had just left school in Birkdale at around 3.15pm on Monday when he was hit by Gerrard's Bentley car. Witnesses are reported to have said he ran into the road. A hospital spokeswoman said the boy was in a stable condition after fracturing his left tibia and fibula. He is being detained for observation. A spokesman for Gerrard earlier said he was driving "very slowly" at the time of the accident and was "distressed" over the incident. Gerrard later attended a police station where he produced his driving documents and made a statement about the collision. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said that Gerrard was fine as the team prepared for Wednesday's Champions League Group A home match against Olympique Marseille. Facts and figures relating to Matchday Two in Champions League game: GROUP A LIVERPOOL V OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE Head-to-head record Played: 2 Previous meetings Wins: Olympique Marseille 1, Draws 1 UEFA: R4 11.03.04 Liverpool 1 Olympique Marseille 1 25.03.04 Olympique Marseille 2 Liverpool 1 * Liverpool have won their last four matches against French clubs without conceding a goal, beating Girondins Bordeaux home and away in last season's group stage and Toulouse twice in this year's qualifying round. They have won eight of nine home games against French teams, Marseille being the only one to escape with a draw in the 2003-04 season. * Liverpool have scored only four goals in their last five Champions League games. * Marseille are unbeaten in their last six matches with English clubs but lost on both previous Champions League away games in England to Manchester United and Chelsea, both in the 1999-2000 season. * Marseille have failed to win any of their last eight Champions League away matches, losing seven.

ITN Source | October 3, 2007

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