Liverpool take on Premier League leaders Chelsea in the second leg of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday evening. The first leg at Anfield ended in an exciting 1-1 draw so this match becomes the decisive one for both sides.
Brendan Rodgers spoke about the tie and said that his side would be in confident mood approaching this game.
“It’s a different game, of course, but a game we’ll have to be really solid in our defending in,” Rodgers said at the pre-match press conference.
“That was also key; we were a real threat going forward, but if you analyse the last game we were very good defensively. We had great pressure on the ball, we were very good controlling the counter-attack.
“They had one moment just after half-time when [Diego] Costa sort of got through and we were on our toes, with Simon [Mignolet] at the edge of the box.
“Apart from that, we controlled the counter-attack really well and looked a real threat going forward. I felt we took that performance into the cup game against Bolton, but just couldn’t quite get the goal.
“The team is on the up, we have seen that over the last number of weeks – confidence is really high. We certainly won’t be underestimating Chelsea because they have had a disappointing result, we know that every element of our game has to be at a high level.
“But we’ve got great confidence going into the game, knowing that in particular away from home our form and resilience is getting better and better, and we can get a result.
“The opportunity to win trophies was always going to be a priority for us. We’re at the semi-final stage, it’s a one-off game now to take us there. We feel confident that we can get a result that gets us into the final.”
In one of the biggest shocks of the FA Cup, Chelsea were defeated by League One outfit Bradford City 4-2. When asked what the Blues’ result means for Liverpool, Rodgers said, “They had a tough result at the weekend but it doesn’t mean they’re not a dangerous team or an outstanding team. They will have great motivation in a different game and different competition, with a Wembley place at stake. When you come off a game like that, you want to put it right.
“But there is also that in the back of your mind that even if you’re up in the game – like they were, 2-0 – you can still lose the game. So I’m sure there’ll be that bit of trepidation. But it will be a motivation to get over the result.
“They are a very good side. We played them last week when they were probably coming off their best result and performance, arguably, of the season against Swansea.
“We’re certainly going into the game with no fear. Our strength is very much in attack and going forward – we showed that in the last game.”