Chelsea bid for revenge against Liverpool

LONDON: Chelsea are the odd one out in the Champions League semi-finals – they have never won a European title.

The Blues will have an eye on revenge when they host Liverpool in the first leg tomorrow.

Liverpool’s run to a victorious final against Milan two seasons ago hinged on a much-disputed goal by Luis Garcia, the only one of their two semi-final legs against Chelsea.

Many Blues fans still believe Garcia’s strike did not cross the line at Anfield and see this season’s meetings as a chance to set the record straight.

In the Premier League this season, Chelsea beat Liverpool 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in September courtesy of a wonder strike by Ivorian Didier Drogba but lost 2-0 at Anfield in January.

In the build-up to the first leg, Liverpool defeated Wigan 2-0 at Anfield off two goals from Dirk Kuyt on Saturday. Manager Rafa Benitez decided not to start captain Steven Gerrard in a league game for the first time in a year, instead inserting him for the last 30 minutes.

“This was the ideal situation,” Benitez said. “We wanted a good game, a good result, to score a few and control the game. We wanted to rest some players like Steven Gerrard and we didn’t want any injuries. In the end it was almost perfect.”

Jose Mourinho cannot say the same about his lead-up to tomorrow’s game. The Chelsea coach had the chance to close the gap to Manchester United in the Premier League to one point by defeating Newcastle on Sunday. Instead, Chelsea drew 0-0.

“All of our players are ready,’’ Benitez said. “We do not fear Chelsea, but we have respect for them and also confidence. In a competition like this, everyone is motivated – it will be a tough game for everyone.”

All four coaches in the semi-finals have won a Champions League title before – Alex Ferguson with United in 1999, Benitez with Liverpool in 2005 and Carlo Ancelotti with Milan in 2003. Mourinho won the Champions League with FC Porto in 2004. None of them are English. – Agencies