Bruno Cheyrou is a name unlikely to spark too many memories on Merseyside, but the Frenchman retains the distinction of being the last Liverpool player to score at Stamford Bridge.
That goal came in a 1-0 victory in January 2004, and since then Liverpool have played some 777 minutes of football at Chelsea without finding the net. It is a sequence that underlines the size of their task following Tuesday's 1-1 draw, yet the presence of Fernando Torres remains a source of considerable confidence within the Anfield dressing room.
"We haven't been to Stamford Bridge yet with Fernando Torres in the team, and that could make a difference," Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said. "You wouldn't put it past him to get that all-important away goal that could end up taking us through. We have been to places like Inter Milan and Arsenal and scored, so I don't see why we can't do the same at Stamford Bridge.
"We are confident we can beat Chelsea on their patch. We created the better chances at Anfield, and I don't recall Pepe Reina having anything to do except pick the ball out of the net. We believe that even if we had come off that pitch winning 1-0, it should have been at least 2-0 or 3-0."
Disharmony might reign off the pitch, but the Liverpool players emerged from the trauma of conceding Tuesday's late equaliser remarkably unified, and bullish about the possibility of upsetting the odds next week.
"We dominated the game and created all the best chances," Reina said. "It could easily have been 3-0, but we have to accept it is 1-1. They have a big game at the weekend, and can't rest as many players as maybe we can. Hopefully, playing United will take something out of them."
The Liverpool players have also rallied behind John-Arne Riise following his own goal. With Fabio Aurelio out for a fortnight with an abductor muscle injury, Riise is likely to start next Wednesday. "He has done some wonderful things for this club," Gerrard said. "No one is pointing any fingers. We have got to try and get his head right now. A few of the lads had a word with him, and I will do my best to pick him up."
Benitez is aware of Liverpool's miserable recent record at Stamford Bridge, but intends to prepare his team with an emphasis on producing a cutting edge in front of goal. "We have confidence that we can create history by winning there," he said. "They have lost only once at home for over four years. All these things must come to an end."
That goal came in a 1-0 victory in January 2004, and since then Liverpool have played some 777 minutes of football at Chelsea without finding the net. It is a sequence that underlines the size of their task following Tuesday's 1-1 draw, yet the presence of Fernando Torres remains a source of considerable confidence within the Anfield dressing room.
"We haven't been to Stamford Bridge yet with Fernando Torres in the team, and that could make a difference," Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said. "You wouldn't put it past him to get that all-important away goal that could end up taking us through. We have been to places like Inter Milan and Arsenal and scored, so I don't see why we can't do the same at Stamford Bridge.
"We are confident we can beat Chelsea on their patch. We created the better chances at Anfield, and I don't recall Pepe Reina having anything to do except pick the ball out of the net. We believe that even if we had come off that pitch winning 1-0, it should have been at least 2-0 or 3-0."
Disharmony might reign off the pitch, but the Liverpool players emerged from the trauma of conceding Tuesday's late equaliser remarkably unified, and bullish about the possibility of upsetting the odds next week.
"We dominated the game and created all the best chances," Reina said. "It could easily have been 3-0, but we have to accept it is 1-1. They have a big game at the weekend, and can't rest as many players as maybe we can. Hopefully, playing United will take something out of them."
The Liverpool players have also rallied behind John-Arne Riise following his own goal. With Fabio Aurelio out for a fortnight with an abductor muscle injury, Riise is likely to start next Wednesday. "He has done some wonderful things for this club," Gerrard said. "No one is pointing any fingers. We have got to try and get his head right now. A few of the lads had a word with him, and I will do my best to pick him up."
Benitez is aware of Liverpool's miserable recent record at Stamford Bridge, but intends to prepare his team with an emphasis on producing a cutting edge in front of goal. "We have confidence that we can create history by winning there," he said. "They have lost only once at home for over four years. All these things must come to an end."
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