Benitez deflects goal pressure

Updated 15.34 Wed Apr 30 2008

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes Chelsea are under pressure to attack in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.

The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw at Anfield, so Liverpool have to score at Stamford Bridge to cancel out Chelsea's away goal.

"Their supporters will be expecting something special and you cannot defend at home and lose 1-0" - Rafael Benitez

Benitez said: "We need to score one goal, and maybe that will be enough.

"Chelsea will be under pressure. Their supporters will be expecting something special and you cannot defend at home and lose 1-0.

"Their supporters will not be happy with that. So Chelsea need to attack and we need to attack, so it will be a very open game."

Chelsea have never reached the Champions League final but they have been knocked out in the semi-finals three times since 2004.

Benitez added: "Maybe Chelsea will be under more pressure. They want to win but they know they have failed at this stage three times recently.

"Their fans will try to push them to the final, but the same applies to our fans because we want the trophy too.

"Even if we concede, it still means we must score. If we score then Chelsea have big problems because they must get two, and if we get another then they will have to score three. It is tougher for them in such a situation.

"It could be penalties again, but I have great faith in Pepe Reina and I know that if Fernando Torres has the sort of chances this time that he missed in the first leg, then he will not miss them a second time. Chelsea must be aware of that."

Chelsea have not scored a single goal at Stamford Bridge since January 2004, but Benitez is convinced his top scorer Fernando Torres can end that run.

He said: "Torres has the mentality to reach the final, he wants to play and he is very focused and can concentrate.

"For him to be in a European Cup final in his first season at Liverpool is a dream he wants to experience."

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