LA CORUNA, Spain (AFP) - Liverpool will be without their French international striker Djibril Cisse but he will be on the mind of all his team-mates in their Champions League group A match at Deportivo La Coruna.
"Losing Cisse is a major blow to the club, we are well aware of that, but there are other players who can come in and play in his position, and it is up to them to take their chance. The best tribute we can pay him now is by winning the match," said Liverpool defender Josemi Gonzalez here on Tuesday.
Josemi admitted that every player has been touched by the French striker's plight after he broke his leg in two places during the 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
"It has affected the whole team and our thoughts are with him. It was a terribly unfortunate injury and it could have happened to any of us," added the Spaniard, in an interview with Liverpool's official club website www.liverpoolfc.tv.
"But we cannot afford to dwell on what happened at Blackburn. We must now look ahead and concentrate on the game here."
Josemi is back playing in Spain for the first time since his summer transfer to Anfield from Malaga and he hopes to make it a winning return.
"It will be a difficult match. Both sides need three points. Depor have not been doing too well this season.
"They will be pretty much out if they lose, but our desire for three points is just as strong," warned Josemi, who couldn't contain Deportivo in the Riazor stadium last season when Malaga went down 1-0.
11/02/2004 - 21:24 GMT - AFP