The Road To Athens : Liverpool vs Chelsea (Pt II)

last SG · 2007-05-02T02:19:47+00:00

i fcukin knew it! i was hoping for fowler to score the penalty winner. damn Kuyt!

Poolman SG

vs

2nd May 2007 , Tuesday

Kick-Off : 2.45am

Venue : Anfied

Live : CH-23 ESPN

Referee : Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (the man who took charge of their 2005 European Cup triumph over AC Milan.)

Poolman SG

Rafa : Pressure is on Blues

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes the pressure is firmly on Chelsea when the sides clash in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Despite The Blues holding a 1-0 advantage from their first leg tie at Stamford Bridge, they fell five points behind Manchester United in the title race at the weekend.

Benitez knows Jose Mourinho must land silverware regularly and believes the pressure is firmly on the ex-Porto man at Anfield.

Liverpool's Spanish boss is happy his side only have a one goal deficit to make up and is looking forward to dumping Chelsea out of Europe.

"I don't want to analyse what Chelsea say or do," Benitez said in the Daily Express.

"All I know is that they have spent millions and millions and they need to win trophies.

"If you spend this amount of money, it is to win trophies.

"That means if they cannot win the league now, they will be under real pressure.

"The positive thing for me is that we played badly, but conceded one at Stamford Bridge."

We have nothing to lose really . We just need to play and win , nothing else .

Poolman SG

Boulahrouz puts his hand up for Chelsea return
tribalfooball.com - April 29, 2007

Chelsea defender Khalid Boulahrouz has declared himself available ahead of their Champions League semi at Liverpool.

Boulahrouz may be called upon to help fill the defensive gap left by Ricardo Carvalho's absence.

The Dutch defender has found it difficult to get back into the side after dislocating his shoulder in the FA Cup win over Norwich in February, but he is ready to help if needed.

Boulahrouz said: "I'd worked so hard to come back from a knee injury and was feeling very strong. I had no doubts at all about the knee, which was feeling great.

"And then two minutes before the end of the first half I dislocated my shoulder. It was must very bad luck.

"But there is nothing you can do about it when these things happen. You can get made, you can get sad. But for me I just try to stay as relaxed as possible and focus on my recovery.

"Now I am over the shoulder and the team are doing well, so I will have to fight for my place.

"Everybody is incredibly motivated and the spirit and atmosphere between everyone is fantastic."

It's a coy ..... i don't believe Carvalho is seriously injured .

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

come on you reds Embarassed

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

Bolo Zenden reckons the power of the Kop can tilt the Champions League semi-final in Liverpool's favour.
Having experienced Anfield's unique European match-night atmosphere from the home and away dressing rooms, Zenden knows only too well the contrasting effects it can have on the players of both teams.

The Dutchman was a member of the Barcelona side beaten by the Reds in the last four of the UEFA Cup in 2001 and has been a key figure in Liverpool's run to the same stage of this season's Champions League.

"Maybe there are some players who get intimidated by that kind of atmosphere. Everyone reacts differently. Personally, I always consume it and enjoyed those occasions more, but not everyone is the same," he said.

"Maybe it's the kind of atmosphere which helps the home players as much as if affects the away ones. When you go into any game your focus is always on your job and try to concentrate on what you have to do, no matter what's going on around you.

"But it helps us because we know the fans will do a fantastic job tomorrow.

"With the fans behind us it will make a difference. Even those at Stamford Bridge last week made a lot of noise and I'm sure it will be a fantastic European night as it always is when we play at Anfield in this competition."

He added: "Somebody asked me if we'll go attacking from the first minute. I'm not sure about that.

"We know Chelsea play on the counter attack so we have to be careful. There's 90 minutes to score a goal and it doesn't matter if that comes in the last minute. If we beat them 1-0 and it's extra-time, so be it.

"We can't take our league win over them into this game, but at least it's shown what we're capable of doing against them.

"We're obviously not pleased to be going into the game 1-0 down. We wanted to score at Stamford Bridge and we know if you can score away from home the result is better. We didn't get that, but at least we didn't give much away and we know when we play at Anfield anything is possible.

"They used the counter attack well to score but I think we can contain them."

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

Finann and Essien set to return for Anfield semi

Liverpool expect to have full-back Steve Finnan back following a neck injury while Chelsea will have midfielder Michael Essien available after a one-match European ban ahead of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final, second leg at Anfield.

Finnan has missed the last four matches, although on Saturday at Portsmouth he was officially rested as boss Rafael Benitez made seven changes from the side which lost at Stamford Bridge in the first leg.

Those seven - Jose Reina, Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Dirk Kuyt and John Arne Riise - all look certain to start, while Benitez will also consider using Peter Crouch in the starting XI.

For Chelsea Ricardo Carvalho is ruled out with a knee problem, which could see Essien partnering John Terry at centre-back, while Michael Ballack has had an ankle operation which will rule him out for at least 10 days.

Didier Drogba is one yellow card away from missing a potential final in Athens if Chelsea can hold onto their first-leg lead, while it is expected that Khalid Boulahrouz could come into defence.

For Liverpool only Javier Mascherano and Jermaine Pennant are one booking away from missing the final.

Provisional Liverpool squad: Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Riise, Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Pennant, Zenden, Bellamy, Kuyt, Mascherano, Crouch, Dudek, Gonzalez.

Provisional Chelsea squad: Cech, A Cole, Makelele, Terry, Essien, Ferreira, Boulahrouz, Shevchenko, Lampard, J Cole, Drogba, Mikel, Geremi, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Diarra, Kalou, Cudicini.

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

Rafa Benitez is predicting Chelsea will struggle when confronted by the Anfield crowd on Tuesday night.

Liverpool are aiming to overturn a one-goal deficit against their old rivals in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League.

The Reds beat Chelsea 2-0 at home in the Premiership back in January and also notched a 1-0 success at this stage of the Champions League two years ago.

Benitez feels that, despite any positive noises emanating from the Chelsea camp, the intimidating atmosphere at Anfield will be a problem for Jose Mourinho's side.

"I am sure they will see that Anfield is very difficult for them," said Benitez on Sky Sports News.

"I know they have this experience before and you can talk about 'no, no, it's not a problem', but we know it will be a problem for them.

"You know my idea, our supporters, they are the special ones, that's clear."

The Champions League represents Liverpool's only chance of silverware this season, but Benitez is happy with the progress his team have been making.

He added: "I think it's important to see the team in the top four in Europe, it's very positive.

"We want to improve in all the competitions, but at least we have this opportunity which is not easy for the majority of teams, so we must be pleased to be here.

When asked if it was imperative for Liverpool to win the Champions League, he responded: "Imperative? You cannot say that, I don't think for any club in the world it's imperative.

"Maybe it's really more imperative for who spends the more money, it always the same, it's normal.

"Each one (club) has its own problems. We want to win this game and we want to finish third in the league."

Poolman SG

Walao .... mind games start liao between Rafa and Mourinho ....

Mouth games also .... Mourinho taked alot ... as usual .

CoolMyth SG

I'm very worried. Long time since I've been so worried over a match. Laughing

798 SG

i say the match will be 1-0, n extra time will be 1-1 each n finally liverpool will win chelsea in pk shootout. Mr. Green

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

lol pool will play dudek and save sheva's penalty Twisted Evil

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

Rafa Benitez believes Liverpool can reach the Champions League final in Athens even if Chelsea score a crucial away goal on Tuesday night.
The 1-0 scoreline at Stamford Bridge last week means the Reds will have to net three if Chelsea get a goal at Anfield.

But Benitez insists he won't panic if this happens because he knows from experience what his players can do when the chips are down.

"For me, it's better if we don't concede. But we know we can score more than one goal. If we need to score three, okay, we have experience against Olympiacos," the Spaniard told an Anfield press conference on Monday.

"I know we were not playing at our level last week. That's the key for the second leg. If we play to our level I'm sure we will win."

Meanwhile, the Liverpool boss believes the Anfield atmosphere will be a problem for Jose Mourinho's men - despite the experience they have from two years ago.

"Our supporters they are the special ones," said Benitez. "We don't need to talk about our supporters, it's enough just to hear them.

"At Stamford Bridge, we won in the stands, that was clear. The other supporters were with their flags, but our supporters were with their hearts. We don't need to give flags. It's easy for us.

"Our fans cannot give red cards or award penalties, but they can score goals. I like this about our supporters because we know they will show they are the best in the world again tomorrow night.

"I am sure you will see that Anfield is very difficult for Chelsea. They can say they've experienced it before, they can say it's not a problem, but it will be a problem for them.

"We are playing against a very good team, but we have confidence, and playing with 12 men is easy!"

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

Shevchenko to miss Anfield trip

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has been ruled out of tomorrow's Champions League semi-final second leg at Liverpool.

The Ukraine international has not travelled with the squad and joins Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Ballack on the sidelines.

However, Arjen Robben is included in the squad after making a quicker-than-expected recovery from knee ligament damage.

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho believes it is 'obvious' Liverpool will hurl giant striker Peter Crouch into the match.

The Chelsea boss is without key defender Ricardo Carvalho - although opposite number Rafael Benitez insists he will 'wait to see the team sheet first' before believing that - and Mourinho expects to see Crouch leading the Reds attack.

The England man was left on the bench last week in the first leg, when Chelsea won 1-0, but Liverpool's performance improved considerably when he came on for Craig Bellamy.

The Portuguese coach said: 'Rafa is a good manager. In Peter Crouch he has a player who is two metres tall and Ricardo Carvalho is not playing. I think he is intelligent if he plays the direct game to Crouch, that is normal, obvious.

'Yes, we will miss Carvalho. He has been our best defender, one part of the season without Petr Cech behind him, another without John Terry beside him and another without Michael Essien in front of him.

'He has been the main man, the pillar. So to miss him in such a big game is a big blow. We have other solutions, and do not forget that we are winning and every time we play Liverpool and score before them, we always get the right result.

'We are leading 1-0, those are good conditions to have self-belief that we can win the tie.'

Michael Essien, who will be marking Crouch at Anfield said: 'Peter Crouch is the tallest man I have ever played against, but I am ready.'

'I have never seen a footballer like him - he can beat me in the air but I can beat him to the ball on the ground.

'I do not mind playing in defence, I will do anything the team wants. I will play anywhere I have been asked to play, I have been doing it all season so it is nothing new for me.

'The last time we played against Crouch it was me and Paolo, and it was hard. This time John Terry will be alongside me, and I believe we have learned from what happened last time.'

He added: 'It is good to have John alongside me this time, he has more experience and can teach me. I feel we have learned the lesson from the league game earlier in the season at Anfield.

'It was difficult for me and Paolo to deal with Peter Crouch then, I feel it will be a different story this time.

'I think with John around this time, he will be more powerful in the air and can deal with the difficult aerial stuff we may face.'

club18 SG

very optimistic view from the liverpool camp..
seroiusly if they score 1st, i find it very difficult that we will qualify..
3 goals leh..
hopefully we dun concede and score 2 to qualify..
Laughing

ghimpheng SG

no sheva no ballack return of robben is a good sign

no Ricardo Carvalho bad sign

we score 1 goal liverpool need to score 3

as soon as we score 1 goal the match is over

club18 SG

dun so happy yet.. Laughing
dun forget istanbul ok?
came back from 3 down to draw 3-3..
and that was ac milan.. so wat is chelsea? Twisted Evil

Poolman SG

Shevchenko or not , Robben or not …. does it make a difference ? They are not good defenders … what Chelsea need now is not forwards , it’s defenders .

zocoss SG

CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho was thanked last night for delivering the perfect team talk for Liverpool before tonight's Champions League showdown. Anfield boss Rafa Benitez insisted that his job has already been done for him with the disrespectful jibes hurled at the club by his Blues' counterpart. There is genuine anger within Liverpool at the way Mourinho has attempted to belittle the history and achievements of England's most decorated football club.

The Chelsea boss suggested that his side's opponents are no longer a big club, and merely a cup team. Mourinho also claimed that had he boasted the same record as the Anfield manager over the past few years, then he would have been sacked.

That though, according to Benitez, will simply stir up the passion on the Kop a few degrees more to melting point - and sweep Liverpool into the final in Athens on May 23. "It is something so clear we don't need to say anything else... our supporters will have the last word now, after what Mourinho has said," explained Benitez. "He has made my job easier for me. Now our supporters will be even more behind the team than before, because he has gone too far in talking about the history of the club.

Benitez believes that the power of the Kop is worth a goal tonight, and he clearly expects the Anfield crowd to be roused to fever pitch by the antics of the Chelsea manager. The Spaniard was happy to play a few mind games of his own however and said: "Mourinho talked about us wanting to get Drogba booked, and out of the second leg. "Well, he is playing, but now it will be on his mind that if he is booked he will miss the final, and that could affect him.

Benitez cheekily anticipated Chelsea protests at the fact that a Spanish referee will be in charge of tonight's tie. He quipped: "Maybe we can change the referee, if they want. "Perhaps we could use a Portuguese referee if they would prefer. It is not a problem to us."

zocoss SG

Will we see something like this again from chelsea later?

ghimpheng SG

watever let the results speak for itself

lazy to aruge with bias / anti chelsea fans anymore