Girona coach Michel Sanchez said his team needs "magic" from fans at their tiny Montilivi stadium to overcome English giants Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Catalan minnows, competing in the competition for the first time in their history, welcome the Premier League leaders who also head the European group table with a 100 percent record.

By contrast Girona sit 30th with four defeats from their opening five games, and are fighting to survive in the competition.

"We will have to run more than ever, but we can do it, of course," Sanchez told reporters.

"They dominate in every way, and that is why we have to think about ourselves, be ourselves and give the best version of ourselves.

"We will see, with the atmosphere that we have to create... we need the magic of Montilivi to make history."

Due to UEFA regulations, Girona's already small capacity is further reduced to under 10,000 seats for European competition.

However, the lucky few fans inside the stadium will witness a match which Sanchez said he has been waiting to play for years.

"For me it means a lot, it was a dream as a player, I played in the Europa League with Rayo (Vallecano), reaching the quarter-finals and Liverpool were there as well," said Sanchez.

Rayo were knocked out in the last eight by Spanish side Alaves, whom Liverpool eventually defeated in the 2001 final in a 5-4 thriller.

"At Rayo we always sang 'Next year Rayo vs Liverpool', that was the dream.

"After we reached the Champions League it was an opponent I wanted... it will be a special day for Girona, the club, the team and the fans.

"We have to enjoy it and compete at 100 percent."

Sanchez said his dream was now to beat Liverpool 1-0 with veteran Uruguayan striker Cristhian Stuani scoring a 90th-minute winner.

The coach explained his team would try to shut down Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah and warned his players they had to be extremely careful after losing the ball.

"There is always the possibility of controlling a player, every team tries to do that -- (Salah) is in incredible form," added Michel.

"The data says that we are a team that defends well, but there are times when we stop doing it, like in transition and that is where Liverpool are the best team in the world.

Slot's warning

The Premier League leaders are top of the European standings with a 100 percent record and on Tuesday face a Girona side down in 30th, with four defeats in five matches.

However, Slot said he had been watching Girona for a while, as they ran Real Madrid close for the Spanish title last season, and said the Champions League debutants' results do not reflect their quality.

"I think it's really special what they've done here, particularly last season but even this season," Slot told a news conference.

"That they were competing for the league title with this budget probably (shows) how good of a manager Michel is.

"Even this season I think they do better than the results might look, especially in the Champions League -- I've seen almost every game and apart from the PSV game... they were unlucky in every game."

Girona fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in their first ever Champions League clash and then lost 3-2 at Slot's former club Feyenoord.

The Catalan club beat Slovan Bratislava but then lost to PSV and Sturm Graz, leaving them on the brink of elimination.

Slot said he would be able to use his strongest side after Liverpool's Premier League derby clash with Everton at the weekend was called off because of a dangerous storm.

"Now everybody is really fit because we skipped the game on Saturday so there is no reason to rotate," said Slot. "We will start like all the other (European) games with a really good team tomorrow."