Gerrard counts on fan power to jolt Chelsea

14 April 2012

They may not be the most compatible of midfield partners for England, but Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard were on the same wavelength yesterday as Liverpool and Chelsea paused to take stock of their Champions League standing.

Half-time is normally the cue for the managers to have their say, and Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez should have little difficulty filling the interval between now and next Tuesday's semi-final return with more of their vitriolic exchanges.

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Battle for control: Gerrard (left) and Lampard at Stamford Bridge

If the rival bosses seem certain to remain at odds, though, two of their most influential players were of one accord as they looked back over a predictably intense confrontation at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Considering the scarcity of goals in this fixture, Joe Cole's lone score, Chelsea's first against Liverpool in five Champions League attempts, has given them an edge in the scrap for a place in Athens next month.

Gerrard is not so sure, and, encouragingly for Liverpool, neither is Lampard. Some might dismiss Gerrard's rallying cry as no more than part of his remit as skipper. But hearing Lampard rue a missed opportunity by Chelsea should be enough to give the Anfield hordes real hope for the return leg.

Casting a critical eye over the way his side squandered the chance to press home their advantage, after dominating the first half, Chelsea's England midfielder said: "There is an element of frustration that we only have a one-goal lead. It's a good result, one we would have taken before kick-off, but it leaves the outcome in the balance.

"Both sides will believe they can go through. We're confident of scoring at Anfield, while they will feel they can claw it back and beat us. That leaves it finely balanced.

"It was encouraging that we created so many chances. We set up the way we wanted to play and achieved everything we hoped for, except scoring more than one goal.

"They're well organised and one of the hardest teams to break down. We managed it a few times in the first half and threatened to on the counter in the second half, but it was not to be.

"We have to reflect positively on being a goal to the good, and keeping a clean sheet, and think about how we're going to play up there. But it's frustrating we didn't score again."

If the door has been left ajar, Gerrard insists Liverpool will be in the mood to batter it down when Anfield turns up the volume on Tuesday.

He could even tell, from the muted emotions among Chelsea players at the end, that Liverpool are not alone in sensing the tie remains wide open.

Gerrard said: "We've left ourselves a bit more to do than two years ago [a goalless draw], and the result suits Chelsea more than us.

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Half-time: Gerrard and Lampard swap shirts at the end of the first leg

"But it is still game on, and no one in our dressing room is feeling down or sorry for himself. The mood is fine, because we know that, if we score first at Anfield, we're going to be in for some game.

"They know the tie isn't over, and you could tell that from their reaction at the end. They've already witnessed what the atmosphere is like at Anfield on big European nights, and they will show us a lot of respect.

"They know what's in store, from the way the crowd lifted us last time, and they also know we're capable of beating them at Anfield — we showed that in the Premiership game this season.

"Maybe we didn't create that many clear-cut chances at Stamford Bridge, but I still can't believe I didn't equalise with that volley in the second half.

"I caught it just right, and I still don't know how Petr Cech got a hand to it. It was a top save and I don't think any other keeper in Europe could have made it.

"The manager told us at half-time to be more positive. We had kept the ball well enough without hurting Chelsea or getting down the flanks.

"At least we had more of a go in the second half, and I feel certain we can hurt them a lot more at Anfield, especially with that crowd behind us.

"If we raise the tempo for the first 20 minutes next week, it's going to be really interesting. The crowd can help us do that. If any fans in the world can make a difference, it's ours.

"They are special nights, these big European ones at Anfield. Let's hope we are in for another next week."

Lampard played down the crowd factor and claimed the return of Michael Essien from suspension could have a more significant bearing on the outcome.

"People talk about the atmosphere being intimidating, but if you're a top player, you should relish it," he said.

"We had too many strong characters to let it affect us two years ago, and it will be the same this time. It's a big plus having Michael Essien back. It's going to be a battle in midfield, and he's the sort you want alongside you.

"It's hard fighting on so many fronts, but desire will keep us going. We have an amazing opportunity to win up to four trophies, and if you can't keep going for that, you never will."

Liverpool have to score, as well as not concede, and keeper Pepe Reina sounded a note of caution by saying: "Chelsea are so good defensively.

"They knew we would start with quick players but defended against that so well. And when we changed it by sending on Peter Crouch, they seemed ready for that as well.

"You have to hand it to them. They're going to be difficult to break down at Anfield."

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