Former OM midfielder Laurent Batlles played Liverpool earlier this season with Toulouse. “They don’t go at you hammer and tongs,” he said, before adding: “I wasn’t that impressed by the atmosphere at Anfield.”

Laurent Batlles, you played against Liverpool in this season Champions League qualifier with Toulouse. How would you describe the Reds?
They are a team with a very well organised defence and they know how to get goals as well because they’ve got big game players. In Toulouse, they were very good defensively, and in the return match they were too string offensively. They did what they wanted to and it was pretty impressive!

What are their strengths and where can they hurt you?
They keep the ball moving very well and they know how to get the ball in the right place at the right time to score goals. They don’t just go at it hammer and tongs, they press very high up the field and that means they win the ball very high up the field too. They really are a quality outfit.

Do you think the atmosphere in the famous Anfield Road stadium has an effect on the opposition?
I’d already played their with Marseille and hadn’t been impressed. This year with Toulouse, even less. I got more thrills at the Vélodrome than I did at Anfield.

A world of advice for the Marseillais?
Above all, defend well and take any chances that come your way.