Source: SKY_Sports
Blues ready for familiar foes
Chelsea secretary David Barnard reflects on being drawn against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League for the fifth consecutive season.[LNB] The Blues have faced the Reds three times in the semi-finals of Europe's premier club competition and once in the group stages.[LNB]They came out on top in the last four last season, setting up a final date with Manchester United, but came up short in the previous two meetings at that stage.[LNB]They are now set to reconvene in the quarter-finals of this season's competition, forming the only all-English tie in the last eight.[LNB]Barnard is excited by the prospect of what promises to be a mouth-watering contest, and admits neither team will have to do much homework on their opponents.[LNB]"We have played them in the group stage and we have played them in the semi-final stage, there is not much to know about Liverpool that we don't already know," he told Sky Sports News.[LNB]The first leg of the monumental encounter will be played at Anfield, with the return meeting set for Stamford Bridge.[LNB]PositiveHistory dictates that the side playing at home in the second leg secures progression, with Barnard hoping that trend continues this year.[LNB]"I think it should help us being away first, it did in the semi-final last year," he added.[LNB]"In previous semi-finals we were at Anfield for the second leg and on all three occasions the team that has been away first has got through."[LNB]Barnard is also delighted to have avoided English opposition in the semi-finals, should Chelsea get through, with Bayern Munich or Barcelona lying in wait at that stage.[LNB]"Obviously Manchester United we played in the final last year and we have avoided them if we get through. We're quite happy with that," he said.[LNB]The first legs of the quarter-finals will be played on 7/8 April, with the return meetings scheduled for 14/15 April.[LNB]
