WHAT can Liverpool do? What stuff are they made of? These are not punters talking. These are Liverpool fans trying to make sense out of nonsense.

Who can really blame them?

While the three other English clubs are safely through to the knockout phase, the Reds are still wandering in limbo - uncertain if they will even be in the tournament when the first knockout round gets going in February.

If it comes down to that and if Liverpool miss the boat, they will look back at their match against Lyon on 4 Nov as the day it ran away from them.

That day in France, Liverpool threw away a 1-0 lead when they allowed Lisandro to grab an equaliser in injury time and, with it, three points flew out of the window.

This match in Budapest is, therefore, their last chance to make something out of a season gone horribly wrong and to give their supporters some cheer ahead of Christmas.

The good thing is they are meeting Debrecen who are, basically, the strugglers in Group E having lost all of their matches.

Then again, can anything be 'easy' for Liverpool? We thought it would be a walk in the park in September when they played this reverse fixture at Anfield. But even then, Liverpool struggled and only survived through a Dirk Kuyt lifeline.

Now they must do it all over again. And in Debrecen's den.

While the Liverpool fan frets and fidgets over what Rafa Benitez can do or will do, where the punters are concerned, only one thing matters. Can they take Liverpool on the 1X2? And, is it safe to have a punt on Liverpool clearing the 1/2-Goal hurdle?

Well, on pedigree, who can say Liverpool will lose? Not me. That's for certain.

Indeed, and when looking at Debrecen's horrendous run in the tournament so far, I cannot see Liverpool losing this one.

Then again, if Benitez wants to be worth his salt, he must win this one because, come 9 Dec, they entertain powerful Fiorentina at Anfield. This is the team which beat them 2-0 in Florence in September.

So, yes. Take the Reds to win this. And, if I might add, handsomely.

On to the other match involving an English team, Arsenal should have little headaches dealing with Belgium side Standard Liege.

When they last met on 16 Sep in Belgium, Nicklas Bendtner, Thomas Vermaelen and Eduardo scored in that 3-2 victory - that, after going 2-0 down with just five minutes on the clock.

The fightback showed us Arsenal's resilience. Since then, the Gunners have been impressive in all competitions - even though they crashed at the Stadium of Light on Saturday - and punters should make them their bankers.

Hit the Gunners hard on the 1X2 where they are worth $1.30. Then, for good measure, have something riding on the 1/2-Goal where the bookmakers are offering $1.87 on Arsene Wenger's men winning by two goals or more.

Still not enough? Then go the whole hog and take Home-Home on the Halftime-Fulltime option. That done, pray that your other bet - the one on Liverpool - doesn't bite you around the area where you - ahem - keep your wallet.