Reds feel it will be deja vu

Liverpool look back to their feats of 2005, the year they beat Chelsea en route to success in the European Cup

Chelsea are juggling three trophy bids. Liverpool are focused on just one. And the Reds do not even have to fall back on 2005 to remember how to beat Chelsea. The two meet at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals. It8217;s a repeat of the 2005 season, when Liverpool eliminated Chelsea in the final four and went on to win their fifth European Cup. Chelsea are still looking for their first.

8220;We knocked them out in the semi-finals in 2005, so there8217;s no reason why we can8217;t do it again,8221; Liverpool defender Steve Finnan said. 8220;It8217;s our only chance of silverware this season and the lads are buzzing.8221;

Particularly when Liverpool can concentrate fully on Europe. Their 2-0 win over Wigan on Saturday ensured they will finish in the top four of the English Premier League and earn another Champions League run next season.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are seeking an unprecedented four titles. They have already secured the League Cup and are locked in a tight Premier League title fight with Manchester United, who they also meet in the FA Cup final on May 19.

For Wednesday, Chelsea could be without defender Ricardo Carvalho, who missed the Newcastle game with injury. Michael Essien, who has often been drafted from midfield into defense, is suspended. Midfielder Michael Ballack was also hurt against Newcastle.

Liverpool won the last time the two met in January, beating Chelsea 2-0 at Anfield in the Premier League. Chelsea defeated Liverpool 1-0 in September, also in the league, while Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 in the preseason Charity Shield in August.

In the 2005 Champions League semi-finals, the two played out a scoreless draw at Stamford Bridge and the tie was decided by Luis Garcia8217;s disputed goal at Anfield, which Mourinho still refuses to acknowledge.

Story continues below this ad

8220;The history the two clubs will create in the next two meetings is more important than what happened in the past,8221; Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. 8220;I don8217;t think there will be many goals. Chelsea have a very good defense and concede fewer goals now than we do.

8220;I think it will be a tight game, though. It tends to be like that when you know you have another game to come.8221;

Liverpool, who have no recent injuries, used captain Steven Gerrard for only 30 minutes on Saturday, giving the England midfielder a rest. The Wigan shutout also allowed goalkeeper Pepe Reina to break Ray Clemence8217;s record for the most number of clean sheets in 100 starts for Liverpool.

Reina has played 55 Liverpool games without conceding a goal. Clemence8217;s record was 51. 8220;Two more would be nice against Chelsea, but we8217;ll have to wait and see what happens,8221; Reina said.