RAFAEL BENITEZ believes Liverpool have the squad to cope without Fernando Torres and banish their Stamford Bridge hoodoo tomorrow.
The only two remaining unbeaten records in the Premier League go on the line as leaders Chelsea entertain the Spaniard’s second-placed side.
Benitez is confident Robbie Keane will overcome a minor groin strain to lead an attack that will be missing Torres, who is again sidelined with a groin problem.
Liverpool have not won in 10 games at Stamford Bridge under Benitez and have gained only one victory in their last 24 visits, a sequence stretching back to 1990.
But with Keane finding the net against Atletico Madrid in midweek and Dirk Kuyt having scored four times in his last three starts, Benitez reckons his team have the firepower to end Chelsea’s 86-game unbeaten home run.
“I think we can beat them without Torres,” said the Liverpool manager. “We have been playing well and we have enough quality in the squad.
“I think it will be important for the squad to show that the team can do things without Torres. We showed this against United and that was very positive. If we want to be contenders it depends on the whole squad and not just one player.
“Keane is scoring now in the Champions League now so hopefully he can start in the Premier League. Kuyt has already started, and that is a positive. We know Torres is a key player for us, but we have enough quality in the squad.”
Liverpool beat Manchester United last month with Torres on the bench, and Benitez added: “We have new players with a good mentality and we have a lot of confidence. I think we have enough to beat a very good team like Chelsea.
“We have the confidence for beating anyone. “We will go to Stamford Bridge and try and win, but if we cannot we must not lose.
“It will be a good problem for me if I have to try and play down expectations.
“If you want to have a chance at the end you have to beat the top sides,” said.
“To beat the other teams is important as you get the points, but the games against the top sides can make the difference.
“The difference at the top can be just one point, so it’s important to beat these teams.”
If Liverpool avoid defeat tomorrow, they will have achieved their best start to a Premier League campaign.
Benitez has admired the impact Luiz Felipe Scolari has made since arriving at Chelsea but refused to be drawn into criticising former sparring partner Jose Mourinho.
“Scolari is improving the squad and team,” said the Liverpool manager.
“It is more or less the same idea but they are more offensive than before.
“I think they are a good team. I don’t want say they are better (than under Mourinho) because I don’t want to start a war of words, but they are more offensive, that is clear.
“Always you want to win against your rivals, our record is something we can change on Sunday.
“You have to leave the fans to enjoy the situation. But the responsibility is to keep things realistic and to make sure the fans are aware it will be difficult to win the title as there are a lot of good teams in England, particularly the top three.”
Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio could return to the starting line-up at the expense of Yossi Benayoun and Andrea Dossena.
The only two remaining unbeaten records in the Premier League go on the line as leaders Chelsea entertain the Spaniard’s second-placed side.
Benitez is confident Robbie Keane will overcome a minor groin strain to lead an attack that will be missing Torres, who is again sidelined with a groin problem.
Liverpool have not won in 10 games at Stamford Bridge under Benitez and have gained only one victory in their last 24 visits, a sequence stretching back to 1990.
But with Keane finding the net against Atletico Madrid in midweek and Dirk Kuyt having scored four times in his last three starts, Benitez reckons his team have the firepower to end Chelsea’s 86-game unbeaten home run.
“I think we can beat them without Torres,” said the Liverpool manager. “We have been playing well and we have enough quality in the squad.
“I think it will be important for the squad to show that the team can do things without Torres. We showed this against United and that was very positive. If we want to be contenders it depends on the whole squad and not just one player.
“Keane is scoring now in the Champions League now so hopefully he can start in the Premier League. Kuyt has already started, and that is a positive. We know Torres is a key player for us, but we have enough quality in the squad.”
Liverpool beat Manchester United last month with Torres on the bench, and Benitez added: “We have new players with a good mentality and we have a lot of confidence. I think we have enough to beat a very good team like Chelsea.
“We have the confidence for beating anyone. “We will go to Stamford Bridge and try and win, but if we cannot we must not lose.
“It will be a good problem for me if I have to try and play down expectations.
“If you want to have a chance at the end you have to beat the top sides,” said.
“To beat the other teams is important as you get the points, but the games against the top sides can make the difference.
“The difference at the top can be just one point, so it’s important to beat these teams.”
If Liverpool avoid defeat tomorrow, they will have achieved their best start to a Premier League campaign.
Benitez has admired the impact Luiz Felipe Scolari has made since arriving at Chelsea but refused to be drawn into criticising former sparring partner Jose Mourinho.
“Scolari is improving the squad and team,” said the Liverpool manager.
“It is more or less the same idea but they are more offensive than before.
“I think they are a good team. I don’t want say they are better (than under Mourinho) because I don’t want to start a war of words, but they are more offensive, that is clear.
“Always you want to win against your rivals, our record is something we can change on Sunday.
“You have to leave the fans to enjoy the situation. But the responsibility is to keep things realistic and to make sure the fans are aware it will be difficult to win the title as there are a lot of good teams in England, particularly the top three.”
Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio could return to the starting line-up at the expense of Yossi Benayoun and Andrea Dossena.
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