Liverpool boss Benitez has referee, not lack of goals, on his mind ahead of Chelsea clash

John Arne Riise's last-second own goal at Anfield last week changed the complexion of a tie that had been dominated by Liverpool and left Chelsea at 1-1 within touching distance of a place in the final.

According to Benitez, though, Liverpool will be the ones grabbing that place from tonight's semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Bizarrely, the Liverpool manager seemed more concerned by Roberto Rosetti's appointment as referee, than any goal threat from Didier Drogba or Michael Ballack, as he highlighted the Italian's record in the Champions League.

Benitez said: 'He's had six games so far. Five have been won by the local team and one by the away side. That happened to be Chelsea, in a group game against Valencia. It's very curious. He has experience, though, and is not a bad referee. As long as he knows he must be strong, he will be OK.'

There was less cause for anxiety over Chelsea's formidable home record apparently, as Benitez outlined why he believes the lure of rubbing shoulders with the illustrious names from Liverpool's past will carry his side to a third final in four seasons.

It would be a remarkable achievement by any standards, even those scaled by the likes of Kevin Keegan and Tommy Smith in the 70s and Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness in the 80s.

Benitez has carefully assessed the mood of his players since Chelsea's freakish late equaliser last Tuesday and is convinced it has been transformed by the prospect of emulating the exploits under Bob Paisley, in particular, and Joe Fagan.

'The players are all aware that they can become part of the Anfield legend by reaching the final and that is spurring them on,' he said.

'The majority of them know what it takes and what it means to get to a final. In some cases, more than one.

'Some of them were in Istanbul three years ago and Athens last season and to them it is even more important. They know they can go to Stamford Bridge and make history. They can join an elite group who have won their way through to three Champions League Finals. That really would take them on to another level.

'I haven't had to say too much to them. They know what is at stake and are focused. My first message to them on Monday was how important it was to have guaranteed fourth place in the Premier League. That allowed us to turn our thoughts to Chelsea and everything since has been really positive.

'I have looked each one in the eye and I like what I see. It is a look of confidence, of winners, and it just confirms to me that the atmosphere among them now is really good.

'We may not have a great record at Stamford Bridge but how many teams have won there in the last 100 games or so? I have only one thing to say about records like theirs. They are there to be broken.'

Riise has pleaded for the chance to make amends for an own goal which, according to Benitez, created a misleading impression of the first game.

The manager said: 'That was the best we have played against Chelsea in a Champions League semi-final. The previous two were 50-50, or perhaps 60-40, but, despite the scoreline, we were so clearly the better team in this one. I was so disappointed at conceding such a late goal and we were all deflated. But after analysing it again we must take confidence from the way we dominated the game and created the better chances.

'Riise has been training well and he clearly wants to make a difference at the right end. That came across in a one-to-one we had. He wanted to talk to me and he said he was ready and strong and I could have confidence in him, so we will see.

'The main thing is we stay compact as a team. The plan is simple really. We need to score and ideally to win. If we draw 1-1 we know Pepe Reina is good at penalties. The aim is to progress and when I look at the mood of my players I am confident we will do it.'

Benitez must also to decide whether to keep faith with the fitful Ryan Babel.

'He has the pace and ability to change a game and he can be a matchwinner,' said Benitez. 'But the key is whether he can start at that level or be more effective coming off the bench'

PROBABLE TEAMS CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Makelele, Ballack, Lampard or Essien; Kalou, Drogba, J Cole.

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa; Alonso, Mascherano; Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel; Torres.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).

TV: Sky Sports 2 7pm (KO 7.45).

Reds can't score but they love a semi

After eight games, 777 minutes and 1,574 days without scoring at Stamford Bridge, we thought Liverpool might need a little reminder of how it's done.

Here's Bruno Cheyrou — not exactly an Anfield great — sliding home Emile Heskey's cross (left) for Liverpool's last goal at Chelsea on January 7, 2004.What they'd do for one of these tonight (a goal, not Bruno).

LIVERPOOL have an almost perfect record in eight European Cup/ Champions League semi-finals.

1965 — Lost to Inter Milan 3-4.

1977 — Beat FC Zurich 6-1.

1978 — Beat Borussia Monchengladbach 4-2.

1981 — Beat Bayern Munich on away goals (1-1)

1984 — Beat Dinamo Bucharest 3-1.

1985 — Beat Panathinaikos 5-0.

2005 — Beat Chelsea 1-0.

2007 — Beat Chelsea on penalties (1-1).

CHELSEA have never won a Champions League semi-final.

2004 — Lost to Monaco 3-5.

2005 — Lost to Liverpool 0-1.

2007 — Lost to Liverpool on penalties (1-1). (all aggregate scores)

P.S.: LIVERPOOL have also won all three UEFA Cup semi-finals they have played. The only other time they have been beaten in a European semi-final was in the 1996-97 Cup Winners' Cup when they lost 3-2 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain.