Liverpool Football Club News

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Kenny Dalglish

• Ground:Anfield
• Capacity:45,362

Gerrard calls for Reds repeat

24 Apr 2008 - 09:43:44

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Captain Steven Gerrard has called on Liverpool to recreate the spirit of 2005 in a bid to overcome Chelsea in the Champions League.

The Reds saw their hopes of reaching a third final in four years suffer a late blow when John Arne Riise's stoppage-time own goal secured Chelsea a 1-1 semi-final first leg draw at Anfield on Tuesday.

But despite the late drama of conceding a potentially costly away goal, Gerarrd still believes the Merseyside club have a great opportunity to reach the Moscow showpiece.

The skipper wants his colleagues to show the same fighting spirit that saw them overturn a three-goal half-time deficit to win the Champions League Final against AC Milan in Istanbul on penalties three years ago.

"We seemed to be in this sort of situation virtually every step of the way in 2005," he told the club's official website.

"Time after time, we came back to win it.

"We pulled it off when the odds seemed stacked against us in so many rounds, not to mention the final, so there is no reason why we can't do it again.

"The advantage is in (Chelsea's) their hands because of that late goal, but we have just got to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and make sure we are ready to put in a magnificent performance next week."

Meanwhile, co-owner Tom Hicks claims to have held positive talks with manager Rafael Benitez concerning possible summer transfer plans.

The controversial American, who is at loggerheads with his fellow owner George Gillett and also chief executive Rick Parry, held two rounds of meetings with the Spanish coach during his visit to Liverpool this week.

"We had a great meeting," he said. "We talked about a lot of things and it was very positive and encouraging.

"Rafa is happy and wants to talk about where he is taking the club."