SPANIARD SEEKS ISTANBUL INSPIRATION

Jimmy Rice 09 April 2009

Alvaro Arbeloa today had one word for anyone who believes Liverpool are out of the Champions League: Istanbul.

Rafa Benitez's side need to score at least three goals at Stamford Bridge next week after losing the home leg of their quarter-final 3-1.

Arbeloa knows it will be tough but hopes the Reds can recreate their heroics from the 2005 Champions League final, when they overturned a 3-0 half-time deficit to lift the trophy.

"We can do it - why not? We believe we can," the Spanish full-back told Liverpoolfc.tv. "We have to go there and fight, try to get one goal and then think about another.

"Liverpool won a Champions League final by scoring three goals in 45 minutes, so why can't we get three in 90?

"I think we have to remember Istanbul and believe. We know it's going to be difficult to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but it's not over."

Liverpool led 1-0 after six minutes thanks to a Fernando Torres strike, but two Branislav Ivanovic headers turned the tie on its head before Didier Drogba inflicted more pain on Anfield.

Arbeloa added: "Maybe we defended too deep after the first goal - we gave them too much of the ball. We conceded and that was painful - and then we conceded again."

Meanwhile, Lucas Leiva insists Liverpool have already proved they can score goals in the toughest stadiums this term.

The Brazilian played a starring role in the 4-1 win at Old Trafford last month and is in no doubt that he and his teammates can do the same in south west London.

"We know it will be really difficult but it's not impossible," Lucas told us. "Chelsea came here and scored three, and we have the quality to do the same there.

"We will have to try until the very last minute at Stamford Bridge. I think we need the perfect performance.

"It's a different game but we have shown already this season we can win 4-1 at places like Old Trafford."

Liverpool now have two days before resuming their title charge in Saturday's lunch-time kick-off against Blackburn.

A win would see the Reds leapfrog leaders Manchester United, who travel to Sunderland at 3pm.

Lucas added: "We are really disappointed but we have to forget about this now because we have a really important game on Saturday, then the second leg.

"We can't talk too much now about the Champions League because we have a massive game in two days' time against Blackburn.

"It is impossible not to think about this game afterwards when you go home, but at training the next day you have to focus on Blackburn. Hopefully we won't make the same mistakes because we still have chances in the title race."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163954090409-0851.htm

PEPE: DON'T BLAME ZONAL MARKING

Jimmy Rice 09 April 2009

Pepe Reina admits Liverpool must improve their defending from set-pieces after two headed goals from Branislav Ivanovic during the 3-1 defeat to Chelsea.

The Spain international was disappointed at the manner of the goals in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg but insists it would be ridiculous to blame zonal marking.

"You are always disappointed when you concede, but especially from set-pieces," Reina told Liverpoolfc.tv. "It's something we'll have to work on.

"It's always the same when we concede goals from free-kicks - people start talking about man marking and zonal. But we've done it for five years and, although I don't have the statistics, I know we're one of the teams that concedes fewest from set pieces."

Didier Drogba added the third as Liverpool slumped to their first home loss in 14 months.

Reina accepts he and his teammates were second best on the night, but insists their dream of reaching the final in Rome is not over.

"They were the better team and they deserved the victory," he said. "We now have to improve on everything we did on the night and be ready for the second leg.

"It's going to be much tougher to win the trophy now - we have to go there and win 3-1 or 3-0. But we can go to any stadium and win.

"Of course the 4-1 at Old Trafford gives us hope - it shows us what we can do at any stadium. We won like that at Old Trafford, why not at Stamford Bridge?

"It has to be a perfect performance. We have to have a great day and they must have one of their worst."

The Reds now need to focus on Saturday's early kick-off against Blackburn, a chance to overtake leaders Manchester United.

Reina added: "It's another competition and we are very much alive in the title race. It's an important game, and early kick-offs are never easy against a rested team, so we have to be ready.

"It's our job to be ready. Whenever we lose games we have to come in the next day and forget about what happened so we can try to move forward and improve.

"We now have to prove to ourselves and our fans that we're still there in the league."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163955090409-0941.htm