Chelsea v Liverpool: Past wins may give LFC an advantage says Arbeloa

Apr 30 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Alvaro Arbeloa is welcomed to Melwood by Rafael Benitez - Picture: EDDIE BARFORD (200)

ALVARO ARBELOA believes Liverpool could hold a psychological edge over Chelsea this evening.

The teams meet in the Champions League semi-final for the third time in four seasons with Rafael Benitez’s side having progressed to the final on the two previous occasions.

And full-back Arbeloa, who is poised to start in defence tonight, reckons that past failure could play on the minds of Chelsea despite the Londoners favourites to go through after the 1-1 draw in the first leg at Anfield last Tuesday.

“The Champions League is always different, Liverpool are always a good team in Europe and in the last three years we have played in two Champions league finals,” said the Spain international.

“Maybe we have a psychological edge because of what we have done in the past. Chelsea know Liverpool are a tough team and the last two times we have beaten them. I hope the same happens this time.

“The key for us is to be really strong in defence and take our chances. In the first leg we had four or five clear chances and maybe tomorrow if we take our chances we can win.”

Unlike 2005 and 2007, when Liverpool won through at Anfield, the second leg will take place at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool have never scored at the ground in eight visits under Benitez and have won only once there since 1989.

But Arbeloa added: “We played really well in the first leg and we were happy with our performance. We have confidence we could beat Inter and could beat Arsenal and I think we can beat Chelsea.

“We just have to do the same things as the other day, take our chances and why not? We can beat Chelsea here. We know it’s going to be difficult here because Chelsea are a really strong team but nobody said it would be easy.

“We’ve been in the semi-finals twice in the last few years and beaten Chelsea before and we know if we do the same things then we can be in the final again.

“We have to score one goal but we have players with quality, we can score everywhere. We can win.”

Should the game end in a 1-1 draw, the game would be decided on penalties – as their semi-final last year was in which Pepe Reina was the hero by saving from Geremi and Arjen Robben.

And Arbeloa said: “We have Pepe so it’s not a problem if we have penalties because we have got the best keeper in the world at saving penalties.”

Despite the possibilities of a shoot-out, Benitez said: “We haven’t been practising especially for penalties. A few of the players like to take penalties against Pepe after most training sessions.

“Anyway, I think penalties are more a question of heart than anything else.”