Borussia Dortmund may not be quaking in their boots, but their German contingent could be forgiven a shudder of apprehension as Liverpool trot out at the Westfalenstadion tonight.
The painful memory of their national side's humiliation in Munich this month still smarts. Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey contributed all five of England's goals that night; this evening the trio are back hoping to kick-start Liverpool's Champions League campaign at the expense of Matthias Sammer's side.
Whereas last week the Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier had to combat the massive expectancy before his club's first outing among Europe's elite in 17 years, which ended in a 1-1 draw at home to Boavista, against Borussia he must guard against complacency.
Primed by England's 5-1 victory, the quintet of Liverpudlians who ran the German defence so ragged then might expect more of the same here.
"I suppose the Germans may try to put things right," Houllier admitted. "I don't want my players to go into this game with any more than the usual confidence they should have in themselves.
"Thinking they have done it all before can be a dangerous anaesthetic; we don't want that affecting their performance.
"I would prefer my side to stem their confidence from the team's force and feelings. We as a team can be extremely strong if we get together. But every game is different.
"What you do pass on from one game to another is maturity and experience."
The Merseyside team are returning to the stage which buzzed to nine goals and a spellbinding Liverpool victory in the UEFA Cup final against Alaves last May.
"It's nice to be back here and, sure, we know the ground and the pitch," added Houllier. "Some of my players know some of the German players, but that won't give us the boost. What should give us confidence was our performance against Everton on Saturday when we showed the psyche, both mentally and tactically, to impose our game."
Liverpool's record against German opposition is good - only six defeats in 30 ties - but their defence, uncharacteristically shaky in recent weeks, must combat a powerful forward line tonight. The 6ft 7in Czech Jan Koller's duel with Sami Hyypia could rock the Ruhr valley.
"He's similar to Duncan Ferguson, but Borussia won't play the same way as Everton," said the Finn's defensive partner Stephane Henchoz.
LIVERPOOL (probable, 4-4-2): Dudek; Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Vignal; Gerrard, McAllister, Hamann, Riise; Owen, Heskey.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND (probable, 4-1-3-2): Lehmann; Evanilson, Kohler, Worns, Dede; Reuter; Stevic, Oliseh, Rosicky; Koller, Amoroso.
