Liverpool are underdogs for semi-final

By Redsfan
April 27 2005

Chelsea are overwhelming favourites to win a place in the Champions League final. Rafa Benitez though, is confident his players can make a mockery of the 31 point lead that Chelsea have in the Premiership, and that league form will count for nothing.

Benitez said: "I have two ideas about this situation. Firstly, the league games are different because of the size of the squads. Not many teams have spent more money than Chelsea in the last two years.

"I also believe over two games anything is possible. I am sure we will see different things. We have a good team with good players and maybe we will see Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso playing 90 minutes together for the first time in a long while. That is good news for us and means it will be more difficult for them.

"If Xabi and Steven play well then I am sure the team will play well and if we play well we can win the game.

"The three league defeats to them this season mean nothing. It is nothing to do with a psychological battle tomorrow night. It's about playing well as a team and we have a lot of confidence.

"Our idea is to play well and win the game. We have produced some good performances in the Champions League this season and played some good football. We will try to do the same tomorrow night but we know it is going to be difficult."

Asked what lessons he's learnt from Chelsea's previous victories in this competition against Barcelona and Bayern Munich Benitez replied: "That is a very good question but at this moment I prefer not to say. I will speak to you after tomorrow's game."