Nemeth Fires Reds Into Final

Goals from Krisztian Nemeth, Daniel Pacheco and Andras Simon fired Liverpool Reserves into the final of the Lancashire County Cup after a 3-0 win at Accrington Stanley on Monday night.

However, the victory came at a cost as Gary Ablett lost two key players in the first half due to injury. Jay Spearing and Ronald Huth both had to leave the field and Ablett will hoping they will recover in time for the Reserves Play-off final against Aston Villa next Wednesday night (May 7).

"Jay got a kick to his leg and it is very sore and Ronald has a thigh strain," Ablett told Liverpoolfc.tv. "It's disappointing but we will give both lads every possible chance to recover in time for the game at Anfield.

"Ryan Flynn also has an achilles injury and we were actually going to take him off before he was sent-off for handball!"

In an action packed encounter Stanley also finished the game with 10 men and they missed a penalty when the Reds Australian keeper Dean Bouzanis made a superb save.

"As to the game itself, in the first half we were superb and created numerous chances. We should have been four or five nil up and we passed the ball really well.

"In the second half they gave it a real go but Dean made a brilliant save to keep out their penalty when the score was only 1-0."

Liverpool will meet Manchester United in the final of the competition on a date yet to be set.

Liverpool team: Bouzanis, Darby, Irwin, San Jose, Huth (Insua 24), Kelly, Lindfield, Spearing (Pacheco 33), Brouwer (Nemeth 77), Simon, Flynn.

Crouch: I Hope To Play Against Chelsea

Liverpool striker Peter Crouch is determined to win a starting place for his side's second leg Champions League semi-final clash at Chelsea.

Crouch has been out of favour for large parts of the season, and in recent weeks he has begun deputising in league games - where Liverpool have safely sealed fourth place - but sitting out all but one Champions League fixture.

When played in the league has scored consistently, and he is hopeful of winning over manager Rafa Benitez and earning himself a place in the starting eleven for Wednesday's game, particularly as the Reds will need to score at least once in Stamford Bridge to progress to the final, after succumbing to a 1-1 draw at home last week.

"Of course I'm hopeful," he said of his chances of starting. "You never know with the manager, he could change things or maybe he will stick with the same team.

"But I am hopeful. I think I've played reasonably well against Birmingham and it would be great if that was enough to keep me in."

Crouch scored the first of his side's two comeback goals at St Andrews on Saturday, which saw them salvage a 2-2 draw after the relegation strugglers took a shock lead.

Though it was Yossi Benayoun who scored the other, Man of the Match plaudits went to Jermaine Pennant who, for the second game running, has proven himself as a valuable creative force for the Reds.

Jermaine Pennant was excellent, absolutely fantastic," enthused Crouch. "Every time he got the ball he created something.

"It makes a centre forward's job much easier when the likes of Jermaine is playing so well because you know he his going to get at the full back and invariably get his cross in.

"That's what I love. It's great when wingers do that.

"I was really pleased to score because it got us back into the game and from that point on we took control and fully deserved the equaliser at the very least."

"Whenever I do play I always feel confident that I will get a goal and thankfully that proved to be the case against Birmingham."

Benítez's Computer Studies Fire Torres For The Crunch At Chelsea

Fernando Torres has warned Chelsea he will improve his Champions League goals tally at Stamford Bridge tomorrow and avenge the frustration of his semi-final first-leg performance.

The Liverpool striker, whose 30 goals this season include five in the Champions League, was denied twice by Petr Cech in last week's game and endured a difficult contest against John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho. But Torres claimed he has learned from the 1-1 draw at Anfield and is intent on puncturing Chelsea's renewed optimism by inspiring Liverpool to a third final appearance in four seasons.

"I have wanted to play against guys like John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho for a long time and they did me an honour by giving me a tough time," the Spain international said. "Now I'm going to try to respond to them by getting a couple of goals against Chelsea.

"Everybody dreams about playing in the Champions League and in the space of a few months I have gone from watching it on TV to having a part in it. I have already got plenty of memories. My goal at the San Siro when we beat Inter Milan 1-0, the 4-0 win over Marseille, and my goal in the 4-2 win over Arsenal. And now it is the turn of Chelsea."

Liverpool's manager, Rafael Benítez, has no fresh injury worries and Torres, rested for the 2-2 draw at Birmingham City on Saturday, has given an insight into the meticulous preparation of his compatriot, who he credits for his decision to leave Atletico Madrid last summer.

"Rafa Benítez is obsessed with details," Torres added. "He calculates everything, including runs and flights of the ball, and studies it on his computer. And if he tells you to stand five feet from the penalty spot, it's not in your best interests to be six feet from it. He'll show you that the extra distance makes the difference between a goal and a missed chance - and it has worked for me. He has great powers of seduction and he makes crazy demands on us. At the end of training, when we are all tired, he can still make us repeat routines 20 or 30 times."

Yossi: I'm No Luis Garcia

Yossi Benayoun has dismissed comparisons between he and former Liverpool winger Luis Garcia.

The Israeli playmaker, purchased from West Ham for ₤4 million last summer, was seen by many as the ideal replacement for Garcia, who left Merseyside to return to his former club Atletico Madrid.

Benayoun faced a tough task filling the void left by the Spaniard’s departure, given Garcia’s immense popularity among the Liverpool supporters earned through some inspirational performances during his four seasons at the club.

It was Garcia's efforts in Europe that cemented him as a Kop favourite, particularly his vital goals against Juventus and Chelsea on the way to their Champions League success in 2005.

A Benayoun goal at Stamford Bridge this week would go some way toward fulfilling expectations, but he insists he is keen to fashion his own identity within the club rather than compete with Garcia’s legacy.

"I know that Luis is a very good player who also scored a lot of important goals for Liverpool," Benayoun told LFC Magazine. "He did very well for the club but I am a different player.

"I am lucky that I have also scored quite a few goals this season but I wouldn't like to say that I have come in to replace Luis and the job that he did for Liverpool.

"I just try to do my best. I am not in a competition to try and score more goals than Luis or anyone else.

"I just try to think about my own game and do what is best for the team."

Rush Tips Reds To Turn The Tide

Former Liverpool FC striker Ian Rush insists Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard can produce the goal they need to turn the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Chelsea FC back in their favour. If John Arne Riise's stoppage-time own goal in the 1-1 draw at Anfield tipped the balance towards the Londoners, Rush, who scored 346 goals in 660 games for Liverpool and won the 1984 European Champion Clubs' Cup, believes the tie is far from over.

What did you think of Liverpool's first-leg display?

Ian Rush: Sometimes you have a bit of luck, sometimes you don't, but I thought Liverpool played very well. I think they deserved to win. If it had been 1-0, I think Liverpool would have been favourites to go through, but at 1-1, Chelsea are favourites. Typical Liverpool, they like being the underdogs. I think it's going to be an absolutely fantastic second game. Liverpool were the better team, they played very well. And if they can go to Stamford Bridge and do that again, I think they can get the result. The likes of Torres and Gerrard are always capable of scoring. It wouldn't surprise me if the game went to penalties because the last three times they've played have been so close, but I do think Liverpool will score.

Will Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez have to change tactics for the second leg?

Rush: I don't think he will. I think they will play a similar formation. The good thing is that if they are struggling they can change it – they have [Peter] Crouch and [Jermaine] Pennant on the bench, so they can change into 4-4-2. They will see how it goes in the first half. If it's going well I think they'll keep the same formation, if not Crouch is always liable to come on and cause problems.

How does the class of 2008 compare with 2005?

Rush: You would say they have a stronger squad now. They are more confident now but you need a bit of luck to win anything. Chelsea had the luck [in the first leg]. In 2005 Liverpool had the luck on their side. But I think this is a stronger squad than 2005 and that's why Liverpool supporters still believe they can go to Moscow.

Does it make a big difference that the second leg is away?

Rush: I believe Liverpool can go to Chelsea and score a goal. If it had been at Anfield it would be completely different because there is such a fantastic atmosphere there, but at Chelsea, for me anyway, it seems to be just a normal ground where Liverpool supporters can go and let their voices be heard.

Is Fernando Torres a striking legend in the making?

Rush: Hopefully. I think he has had an absolutely fantastic season for Liverpool. To come and score 30 goals is incredible. Next year will be a big test for him but I think he's big enough and strong enough and good enough to go on to better things. If Torres is going to become a legend then Liverpool are going to be successful.

What are his main strengths?

Rush: He's quick over ten yards. He can kick with both feet. People say he can't head the ball but he's good in the air as well. He also reads the game very well. He's got a very good understanding with Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard has compared Torres to yourself. Is it a fair comparison?

Rush: Yes, he's good-looking as well! I just like watching Torres play. He's a great player and people compare him with me, probably because over the first ten yards he is quick and good with both feet. I happened to do that as well.

If Torres is the new Rush, does that make Gerrard the new Kenny Dalglish in his more attacking role?

Rush: In the understanding they have together, I would say yes. Myself and Kenny had an excellent understanding. I think Gerrard and Torres are very, very similar. When you look at Gerrard, he doesn't put the ball to feet, he just puts the ball into the space for Torres and Torres is reading that already. Apart from being quick over ten yards, he also has a yard or two in his head so that gives him a little bit of space. It is very similar.

An all-English UEFA Champions League final is still a possibility. Perhaps Liverpool versus Manchester United...

Rush: That would be incredible.

Who would win it?

Rush: Liverpool. In a one-off game in Europe, I'd never bet against Liverpool.

Rafa's Made Me Kop Great, Says Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres has branded Rafa Benitez an obsessive taskmaster.

But Torres believes the extraordinary lengths the Liverpool boss goes to in preparation for games has turned him into a world-beater.

The Spain striker admits it has been tough coming to terms with the physical demands of life in England.

But he now feels he can cope with the tough tackling and aims to prove his strength by winning his duel with John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho at Stamford Bridge in tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final clash.

Torres has been a revelation since his £21m move from Atletico Madrid last summer, scoring 30 goals in 42 games.

The striker said: “Rafa Benitez is obsessed with details. He calculates everything, including runs and flights of the ball and studies it on his computer.

“And if he tells you to stand five feet from the penalty spot, it’s not in your best interests to be six feet from it.

“He’ll show you that the extra distance makes the difference between a goal and a missed chance – and it has worked for me.

“The proof for me is I had never scored a club hat-trick in my life before joining Liverpool but I’ve since got three.

“Rafa explained everything to me before I even signed – how we would play and what our aims were. He even gave me a work schedule in advance.

“He has great powers of seduction, and he makes crazy demands on us.

‘‘At the end of training, when we are all tired, he can make us repeat routines 20 or 30 times.

“Training sessions here are tough and committed – and at the same rhythm as proper matches.

“The spirit is the same at the weekend. English football is physical and reasonably honest – in contrast to La Liga.

“The Spanish game is more vicious and you get studs-first challenges and elbowings off the ball.

“All defenders in England are tough, the good ones and the less gifted likewise. It must be written in their contracts!

“But now I’ve taken that on board. I am paid to deal with this, and I am not scared of a scrap so long as it is fair.

“I have wanted to play against guys like John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho for a long time and they do me an honour by giving me a tough time.

“Now I’m going to try to respond to them by getting a couple of goals against them.

“Everybody dreams about playing in the Champions League and in the space of a few months I have gone from watching it on TV to having a part in it.

“I have already got plenty of memories. My goal at the San Siro when we beat Inter Milan 1-0, the 4-0 win over Marseille, and my goal in the 4-2 win over Arsenal.

“And now it is the turn of Chelsea. I don’t ask myself questions – I just know I have done the right thing to join Liverpool.”