The partisans

Gary McAllister believes Liverpool can beat Chelsea and reach the Champions League Final and says he has great confidence in Rafael Benitez's men for the semi-final. McAllister points to Liverpool's outstanding European pedigree and says the Reds can upset the applecart and knock Chelsea out.

McAllister said: "Liverpool can do this. They have the history, winning it four times before. Great European nights are never far away with this club, it's in the blood and I can smell it again. I have been there with them.

"Chelsea are expected to win because they have been the outstanding side this season but I just have this feeling for Liverpool. Something happens to them in Europe and here they are again.

"If Liverpool score and take a draw or even a 2-1 defeat back to Anfield I believe they will do it. It is definitely an advantage to play away first and Liverpool are delighted with how it has worked out. You will see a different type of Liverpool than the one that got that superb draw in Turin against Juventus in the quarter-final.

"They will be more offensive, although still only playing one up front, with either Djibril Cisse or Milan Baros alone. Liverpool will be very confident of scoring that vital goal and what Chelsea know and should fear is the vast experience in the Liverpool side.

"Credit to the Liverpool physio who has somehow got most of the injuries sorted out and getting Cisse fit is a boost.

"Also when you can fielde experienced men like Sami Hyypia, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Djimi Traore, Igor Biscan, Baros and more, you know you have a chance in any kind of game. I still keep in touch with a lot of the players and they are confident.

"Liverpool and their fans are used to European success and when you are involved with Liverpool, history tells you these kind of situationsare part of their lives. They have grown to expect it, something Chelsea have yet to write into their record books."

McAllister also believes Liverpool owe Chelsea one after some rough justice during the 1-0 defeat at Anfield on New Year's Day.

McAllister said: "Another omen is Chelsea have beaten Liverpool three times already this season. Records like that are there to be broken.

"Don't forget, Liverpool were robbed at Anfield, unlucky at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea only equalised with a few minutes to go of normal time in the Carling Cup Final."

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Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri is backing the Blues to overcome Liverpool and reach the Champions League final.

Chelsea meet Liverpool in the first leg of the all-Premiership clash on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.

And Ranieri told BBC Radio Five Live: "I think Chelsea have more chances because they are used to being in this position but they must be careful."

Ranieri, who guided Chelsea to the same stage last season, added: "Liverpool are strong in the Champions League."

The Italian, who was axed as Chelsea boss in June 2004, believes that Chelsea's attacking strength may win them a place in the final in Istanbul on 25 May.

Ranieri added: "The Chelsea strikers, whoever they are from Damien Duff, Didier Drogba, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Arjen Robben, will be the key to this match I think."

He feels that Chelsea are now ready to take the next step after falling victim to Monaco in last season's Champions League semi-final.

Ranieri said: "Last season we built a very good foundation but now it is Jose Mourinho's team.

"When we played against Monaco in the semi-final we had some players who were not in the right condition.

"Damien Duff was injured, Marcel Desailly was not in great condition and we were without Hernan Crespo - a lot of good players were not fit.

"My team was last season. This season it is Mourinho's team and now I am very happy and proud they are trying to win it again."

Chelsea, having won the Carling Cup with a win over Liverpool in the final, are also on the brink of clinching the Premiership title.

And Ranieri said: "I think they have the right mentality and the right experience to try and win everything. It won't be easy against Liverpool because they defend very well, but Chelsea could win everything."

However, Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insists that his side have been presented with an opportunity they do not intend to squander.

He said: "I was talking to the lads the other day, saying we might never get this chance again.

"There are probably six to eight clubs every season who you would say could win the Champions League. That is how difficult it is. Now we are in the last four playing a team that we know well."

Carragher also has a warning for Chelsea about the second leg at Anfield next Tuesday.

He added: "I am delighted that the second leg is at home because if we are still in with a shout the atmosphere at Anfield is going to be something special."

But he called for caution in the first showdown at Stamford Bridge, saying: "If we are getting beaten by one goal with 10 minutes to go, that's not such a bad result.

"We don't want to be trying to get the equaliser and conceding the second. It is little things like that which can change things slightly."

Former Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly, meanwhile, paid tribute to his one-time defensive colleague and newly-crowned PFA player of the Year John Terry.

He said: "I am happy I was part of his grounding. He has been studying everybody and now he's a top, top player."

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Why I fancy Liverpool to win... well, more so than last time anyway

Apr 26 2005

By Mark Lawrenson, Daily Post

AT STAMFORD Bridge tomorrow, I think a lot of Chelsea players will be seeing red - not because they'll do a Gary Neville, but because Liverpool players will be all over them.

Let's not forget that this is a Chelsea team who have stuck four goals past Barcelona and Bayern Munich in their last two home Champions League ties.

However the difference between those games and tomorrow night's is that Liverpool will set themselves up to be difficult to break down, whereas the Spaniards and Germans tried to take Chelsea on.

Quite simply, with the attacking players Chelsea have got, if you try to out-football them, then you will lose.

Frank Lampard, Damien Duff, Joe Cole and Arjen Robben are fantastic individuals capable of changing the game, and most of Chelsea's attacking play comes through them.

As you will have noticed, they are all attacking midfielders, and that means the most important area on the pitch will be between Liverpool's defence and midfield.

That will be where Chelsea try to weave their intricate pbutting patterns, and that is where Liverpool must establish the upper hand.

That is why I believe Rafael Benitez's tactical plan will be to flood this area with players to try and shut down Chelsea's key operators.

Of course, that is easier said than done, and just like in their other away ties in the Champions League this season, Liverpool must also look to carry a goal threat and keep hold of the ball when they get it.

That is where Xabi Alonso comes in, because he has real clbutt in possession. I would also pick out Luis Garcia as another one of Liverpool's potential gamebreakers.

That may surprise a few people given some of the criticism I dished out in his direction earlier this season, but I not ashamed to say he has proven me wrong.

As time has gone on he has understood more and more what is expected of him and what Benitez wants from him too.

Some of the goals he has scored lately have been top clbutt and he is now someone his team-mates look to to make things happen, not as someone with a few flicks and tricks in his armoury and nothing else.

If Liverpool can get back to Anfield with the aggregate score still level or with just the odd goal difference, then they may have to change their tactics there.

Either way, I fancy Liverpool to beat Chelsea more than I did to get past Juventus. Of course, a tip from me may be the kiss of rest, so I'll stick with the formula that worked in the last round, and get my knife and fork ready for another slice of humble pie.

LEAVING the Chelsea game aside, I bet Rafael Benitez can't wait for the summer - because he will have a long shopping list to take to the sales.

As the Crystal Palace game showed, Liverpool's squad is still not strong enough and I would expect them to strengthen in every area. Only when he does that will Benitez be able to rest players with any confidence.

And only then will Liverpool eradicate the type of 1-0 frustrating defeats they have suffered from much too often this season.

-- " Oh Mr Songwriter, write me a song,make it a good song, so that all the children of the world can live in peace...."