A defiant Steven Gerrard has backed Fernando Torres to break Liverpool's goalless record at Stamford Bridge to secure a place in Moscow.
A last-gasp OG from John Arne Riise gave Chelsea a crucial away goal as the first leg ended 1-1, meaning the Reds are going to have to do something they have never done at the Bridge under Rafa Benitez – score.
Asked by Liverpoolfc.tv about that record, Gerrard replied bluntly: "We haven't played there with Fernando Torres, have we?"
Torres, who was absent from both of Liverpool's trips to Chelsea this season, missed a golden opportunity to open the scores when he went one-on-one with Petr Cech in the first half.
It was Dirk Kuyt who eventually fired home, though a thoroughly deserved victory was denied by an enormous stroke of bad luck for Riise with 30 seconds of injury time remaining.
Gerrard admits it's his job to now pick up his teammates ahead of the return leg next Wednesday.
He said: "Obviously we're disappointed with the late goal but it's done. We've got to pick ourselves up. We've got to get a result at the weekend then give it everything we can at Stamford Bridge. We know this tie is not over.
"It's my job as captain to pick the boys up and make sure we're ready for next week.
"Let people say Chelsea are favourites, let them. We've got to block that out and do what we've got to do. We are confident we can beat Chelsea on their patch.
"We've created the better chances against them here. I don't think Pepe had anything to do besides pick the ball out late doors. Petr Cech has had to pull off two or three great saves. To be honest, we'd have been disappointed if this game had ended 1-0 when it could have been 2-0."
Kuyt has now scored in every round of this season's Champions League – a remarkable stat considering the stick dished out to the Dutchman in some sections of the press earlier in the season.
The skipper added: "I haven't heard him get any stick. We don't listen to any of that (the media). Dirk has been fantastic for us, he's worked his socks off for us again tonight and deserved his goal. He is well respected in the dressing room."
Gerrard also had comforting words for substitute Riise, putting the last-minute equaliser down to misfortune.
He said: "These ties are decided on small details and Chelsea have had a bit of luck here at the end, but maybe we'll get that luck at Stamford Bridge. This team wins, loses and draws together.
"It's the second leg of the European Cup semi-final – if you can't motivate yourself for that you shouldn't be playing football." 作者: crashersus 時間: 2008-4-23 01:43 PM
尼句好啊....
This team wins, loses and draws together.作者: steve86 時間: 2008-4-23 10:04 PM
TORRES CAN FIRE US TO MOSCOW作者: tsyeo10 時間: 2008-4-23 11:56 PM
geRRard really a GOod LEADER!!!!!!!!!!!作者: garyson 時間: 2008-4-24 01:05 AM
Good on you Gerrard !!!!作者: doubleychen 時間: 2008-4-24 07:09 AM
