Benitez relishing Blues showdown

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The Spaniard masterminded the quarter-final defeat of Arsenal on Tuesday night at Anfield, a 4-2 victory and 5-3 aggregate triumph over Arsene Wenger's men to set them up to face Chelsea later this month.

Benitez said: "It is amazing that it is Chelsea again, and just as before it will be a very, very tough game."

Then last term they reached the final in Athens with a penalty shoot-out success over Chelsea. Now it is Chelsea again, but this time the second leg will be at Stamford Bridge.

Benitez said: "Will that be an advantage to Chelsea? I don't know, these games are always very close. I will tell you after the matches who had the advantage."

The Gunners took an early lead through Abou Diaby in the 13th minute, only for Sami Hyypia to level.

Fernando Torres fired the Reds in front, but Emmanuel Adebayor looked to have put the Gunners through with a second late away goal after a brilliant surging run by Theo Walcott before Gerrard won it from the spot. Substitute Ryan Babel added a fourth in stoppage time.

Benitez said: "I was delighted with the belief of my players, particularly in the second half. We had been so poor before the break, but so much better in the second period. It was a tremendous game for our fans, there were six goals and we played so well.

"I hear Steven Gerrard has said it was a poor game by him, but I was satisfied. He scored a crucially important penalty for us when it really mattered, that was positive from him to take it so well.

"Now we have Chelsea again in the semi-final. Again it will be a very, very tough game against an excellent side. But like here, we have enough experience of such matches and clearly the belief to succeed again."