Didi Hamann says winning the Carling Cup will be a game changer for Liverpool.
Roberto Mancini's Manchester City were poor in the first leg of their semifinal but Hamann does not expect to see a repeat performance and believes Liverpool cannot afford to sit back and defend their lead.
"They have put themselves in a great position with a 1-0 win in the first leg and they have every chance.
"It is a big game for Liverpool on Wednesday because I am not sure whether they can shut them (City) out again.
"If Liverpool want to go through they have to score and this is where the problem lies because they find goals hard to come by at the moment.
"It will be a tight and interesting game but Liverpool are probably just marginal favourites because they won the first leg.
"And if they were to get to the final you would fancy them against a Championship side (Crystal Palace and Cardiff contest the other semi-final).
"It would do their confidence the world of good because it makes them believe more and if you have come out of a final successful it gives everyone an extra boost." "They (Liverpool) have had six years to get a monkey off their back and they have a golden opportunity this year," said Hamann.
