Barnes: Heidar must fire if Reds are to fall

Barnes believes Watford's in-form striker Heidar Helguson, who has scored 16 goals this season, is crucial to their chances tonight.

"Helguson is the key," said the Five football presenter. "He is an excellent player. He is good in the air, holds the ball up well and is a good finisher. He is a real threat. Over the last couple of years he has been Watford's best player. If they can get down the channels and get the ball up to him, he can trouble Liverpool. That is Watford's best chance.

"The crowd will be a factor but they need the players to give them something. The players have to set the tempo and get the crowd going.

The Watford crowd are fantastic but they are not the most vociferous."

Barnes was very impressed by Ray Lewington's team at Anfield.

"They were terrific," he said. "They didn't play like a team struggling in the league. Since then, their league form has picked up, which is unusual for teams doing well in the cups. Often it is the league form that suffers. In a one-off occasion like tonight, anything can happen and if they win it would be fantastic. But the most important thing is the league. I am sure Ray Lewington would give up the cup final for a play-off place or promotion."

What about Liverpool? They appeared to be showing signs of progress under Rafael Benitez but his rebuilding work has been undermined in the last 10 days.

Barnes, whose only stab at management, a difficult spell at Celtic, was cut short after eight months, refuses to blame the Spaniard. Barnes said: "At the moment I'm feeling sorry for Benitez, who I like very much. He is a very good coach but has not been helped by a horrendous injury list.

"First he lost Michael Owen [who joined Real Madrid], then Djibril Cisse goes out, then Milan Baros goes out. No matter how good you are, you're going to struggle if you haven't got your main goalscorers. And it is a going to be a couple of games before you see the best of Fernando Morientes. Because of the injuries, Benitez has not been able to put out his best team yet. Xabi Alonso is now out injured and there is a lot of pressure on Steven Gerrard, who I think has been superb this season."

Barnes, a key figure in Liverpool's last title-winning team in 1990, refuses to criticise Benitez's transfer dealings, particularly those conducted in the Spaniard's homeland.

"Alonso is an excellent player and Luis Garcia is a decent player, although Josemi and Antonio Nunez have struggled," he said.

"But it doesn't matter how you are individually if the team are lacking confidence. You can't show what you can do. It can also take time for foreign players to adapt in England.

"If they can get their injury situation sorted out, they can still have a good finish to the season. I still think they will finish fourth in the league. Everton have been playing really well but Liverpool have enough to get the last Champions League place."

An Anfield great, the place of 41-year-old Barnes in Watford folklore is similarly secure.

Along with Luther Blissett, Pat Rice and Gerry Armstrong, he was part of Graham Taylor's team that were formidable enough to beat Liverpool on the final day of the 1982-83 season and seal second place behind the Merseysiders in England's top division. In 1984, it took the blue half of Merseyside to deny them in the FA Cup Final.

"We had good players and a good manager in Graham Taylor," said Barnes. "We were a top side then. When we played anyone at home, including Liverpool, we expected to beat them."

Despite his split allegiances, is Barnes prepared to predict which of his former clubs will emerge triumphant tonight and line up at Cardiff on 27 February?

"Although they are struggling, I still expect Liverpool to go through," he said. "If Watford had kept the first leg to 0-0, they would have a great chance. That one-goal lead could be crucial."