Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool's league double over Chelsea could give them a psychological edge ahead of yet another meeting in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Reds defender admits he was somewhat frustrated to be drawn against the Londoners for the fifth straight year but insists Rafael Benitez's men will go into the clash confident of progressing to the last four.
"We've got a great record against Chelsea this season and if we play the way we have done against them in the two league matches then we know we can go through," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"The fact we did the double against them might give us that extra confidence. I'm sure if they'd beaten us twice we'd have gone into it with a bit more trepidation, but the fact we won twice will give us a bit of a boost."
The 31-year-old concedes that he would liked to have gone head-to-head with Bayern Munich rather than face another meeting with the Blues.
He feels Europe should be about taking on sides from across the continent and is still hopeful both the German giants and Liverpool will progress so he can realise his dream of playing at the Allianz Arena.
"My initial reaction was that I didn't really want us to get another English team because Europe is about playing European teams," he said.
"The Chelsea lads probably felt the same. I suppose we are sick of the sight of each other really! But we both know what kind of games they will be and we all realise it will be tough.
"I was desperate for us to get Bayern Munich because I wanted to play in their new ground. I like to play in different stadiums across Europe, but if we beat Chelsea we could still draw them in the semi-final."
Last season Chelsea knocked Liverpool out of the competition in the semi-finals. Asked if revenge would act as any form of motivation Carragher said: "Not really. This is a new season and we are probably playing better than we did last year.
"It was unfortunate with John Arne Riise's own goal because if it hadn't gone in, I think we would probably have gone through. That's how close the games are."
"We've got a great record against Chelsea this season and if we play the way we have done against them in the two league matches then we know we can go through," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"The fact we did the double against them might give us that extra confidence. I'm sure if they'd beaten us twice we'd have gone into it with a bit more trepidation, but the fact we won twice will give us a bit of a boost."
The 31-year-old concedes that he would liked to have gone head-to-head with Bayern Munich rather than face another meeting with the Blues.
He feels Europe should be about taking on sides from across the continent and is still hopeful both the German giants and Liverpool will progress so he can realise his dream of playing at the Allianz Arena.
"My initial reaction was that I didn't really want us to get another English team because Europe is about playing European teams," he said.
"The Chelsea lads probably felt the same. I suppose we are sick of the sight of each other really! But we both know what kind of games they will be and we all realise it will be tough.
"I was desperate for us to get Bayern Munich because I wanted to play in their new ground. I like to play in different stadiums across Europe, but if we beat Chelsea we could still draw them in the semi-final."
Last season Chelsea knocked Liverpool out of the competition in the semi-finals. Asked if revenge would act as any form of motivation Carragher said: "Not really. This is a new season and we are probably playing better than we did last year.
"It was unfortunate with John Arne Riise's own goal because if it hadn't gone in, I think we would probably have gone through. That's how close the games are."
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