Torres is my get out of jail free card insists Benitez

And coupled with fit-again Steven Gerrard, the manager sees the double act as the one to defeat Chelsea in tonight's Champions League semi-final first leg at Anfield.

Scroll down for more

Benitez accepts the Anfield showdown will "not be the greatest spectacle", but with Torres and Gerrard in tandem, Liverpool believe they can produce a result to send them into next week's second leg in west London full of confidence.

The Reds manager, aware of the remarks from Chelsea boss Avram Grant about his coveting the Liverpool skipper, said: "Gerrard is a key player for us, and when he scores the winner in the semi-final maybe Chelsea will see even more how important he is for us.

"It is not just about one or two players. We have players of quality who can change a game, and we must play as a unit.

"But when you have Torres or Gerrard, and you are not playing well, the team know that these players can score to get you out of a problem.

• Liverpool v Chelsea: Key Battles

"We have a lot of confidence because we know Torres can create something."

Torres and Gerrard have scored more than 50 goals between them this season, and never can their scoring contribution have been needed more than for this first leg.

Benitez continued: "When we have beaten Chelsea previously in two European semi-finals, the second leg has been at Anfield. This time it will be the reverse situation, so we need to score and not concede here.

• HATCHET MAN - Liverpool haven't got a prayer against Chelsea

"I would prefer to play the second game at Anfield, but we just have to manage the situation.

"The difference will be key players in key moments, but our fans can score the first goal. And with the games being the other way around this time maybe the fans will concentrate even more for us.

"I believe that from the very start we will have the supporters right behind us.

"I am pleased with our form at home, but Chelsea are excellent. We must do our job, be patient and concentrate. We have to control the game and not concede possession.

"Our fans are clever, they know that it will be difficult at Stamford Bridge so they will know how much they must be behind us here.

"I know we have not scored at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League, but we are playing well and I know we can score in this tie in both matches.

"We have had difficult ties like this. In previous seasons we played away second against Juventus and Marseille, and we got through the ties. We can do it again. We have enough confidence to score in any stadium."

There will be interest in the directors' box too, after the Press Association last night revealed Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has invited senior officials from Dubai International Capital to be his guests at the game.

Although Gillett himself will not be able to attend the match because of illness, his party - including son Foster, a fellow director - will be there in force to welcome DIC's representatives.

It is a remarkable move by Gillett, who has wanted to sell his 50 per cent stake in the club to DIC for several months, and comes just five days after his estranged partner Tom Hicks staged an extravagant PR exercise with a TV interview defiantly outlining his own plans for the future of the club.

But significantly, after Hicks had made it clear he still intended to buy out Gillett, Colorado-based Gillett announced that he had no intention of ever selling his stake to Hicks.

It is believed that DIC's chief negotiator Amanda Staveley will be among Gillett's party, along with Liverpool fan and DIC chief executive Samir Al-Ansari.

Hicks could also be there, although significantly his spokesmen in the UK have been unable to confirm the Dallas billionaire's movements.