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Home  » Sports » Liverpool counting on Anfield factor against Chelsea

Liverpool counting on Anfield factor against Chelsea

By Trevor Huggins
September 28, 2005 15:44 IST
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Chelsea will be itching for revenge over holders Liverpool, while Olympique Lyon look to continue their dream start to the Champions League on Wednesday.

AC Milan, last season's finalists, try their luck at Schalke 04, Real Madrid need to make up for a calamitous start when they host Olympiakos and Inter Milan meet Rangers in the pick of the day's action.

Liverpool's re-match of last season's semi-final with the Blues is bound to be another passionate affair at Anfield.

The deafening support, which lasted all 90 minutes, helped Liverpool to a decisive 1-0 victory over the future Premier League champions. Now the likes of England defender Jamie Carragher is hoping for more of the same.

"There was a big gap last year but it was bridged that night because of how much we wanted to win it and how much the crowd was on our side," Carragher told the club's website.

"I'm sure Chelsea did turn up believing they couldn't lose but after hearing the crowd that night I knew we wouldn't lose."

Chelsea, who beat Liverpool in February's League Cup final, take a fearsome record to Merseyide this season, having won all nine games they have played in all competitions.

LYON'S SURPRISE

Lyon caused the surprise of the group stage's opening matches two weeks ago when they hammered Real Madrid 3-0 at the Stade Gerland in Group F.

However, they were chastened by a distinctly below-par showing in last weekend's 1-0 win at Nantes, secured only by a string of superb saves from keeper Gregory Coupet, and now face a tough physical battle at Rosenborg Trondheim.

Assistant coach Patrice Bergues said: "It's good preparation - but we'll have to be better in the Champions League...and the players know they will have to raise their game."

Coupet said: "We need to take a long hard look at ourselves. We were very lucky. We were dominated in the 50/50 balls and it mustn't be like that on Wednesday."

Real, buoyed by two consecutive wins in the Primera Liga, should put their earlier upset behind them against an Olympiakos side who will look to the experience of Brazilian forward Rivaldo.

Real will be without their own Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who completes a two-match ban, and injured playmaker Zinedine Zidane.

Second in Serie A, Inter's good news before hosting Rangers in Group H at the San Siro is that Brazil striker Adriano has signed a new contract until 2010.

City rivals AC Milan have injury doubts over Dutch defender Jaap Stam and midfielder Massimo Ambrosini before their game in Germany.

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Trevor Huggins
Source: REUTERS
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