Rodgers trusts players' confidence
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has faith his players can compete against Chelsea on the pitch irrespective of what gameplan Jose Mourinho employs.
In their last two visits to Anfield the Stamford Bridge boss has comfortably won the tactical battle and Rodgers has lost all three encounters against his former mentor since taking over on Merseyside.
However, he insists that will not have an effect ahead of Tuesday's Capital One Cup semi-final first leg at home against the current Premier League leaders.
"I think a big part is down to the players. Once they cross the line it is about them and the confidence and the qualities they have," said the Reds boss.
"He is a top-class manager, Jose Mourinho has proven that over the last decade or so.
"He has great experience but once the players cross the line for me I have a big trust in the group and they are working well at the moment.
"For us it is certainly not a threat, it is an opportunity to reach a final."
Despite almost winning the league last season Rodgers, in his third season in charge, knows he will have to start delivering silverware soon as the club's last trophy came in this competitions under Kenny Dalglish in 2012.
It would represent a significant hurdle overcome for the manager but he sees as even more important for his young squad.
He was a youth team manager at Chelsea during Mourinho's first spell in charge and Rodgers believes winning the League Cup, the Portuguese's first trophy in England, provided a platform for a decade of success.
"Our objective is to win a trophy and qualify for the Champions League," said the Reds boss.
"I think winning a trophy would help our future here in what we are trying to build and trying to deliver.
"It will give the younger players a lot of experience.
"I joined Chelsea in 2004 and at that point in their history they were a club who wanted to win titles and trophies.
"They have maybe done it in a different way but over the last 10 years they have shown once you have won that first one you can hopefully go on and sustain it.
"The players back then, some of whom are still there now, will tell you the first one is the most important.
"We know it is going to be a challenge but we know if you want to win the competition you have to beat the best teams and at this moment in time Chelsea are the best in the country."
Meanwhile, Chelsea skipper John Terry is chasing success on all fronts this season - insisting the current crop of Stamford Bridge stars need to win silverware to be considered greats.
A 5-0 win at Swansea on Saturday, coupled with reigning champions Manchester City losing to Arsenal, leaves Chelsea five points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
They also face an FA Cup fourth-round tie with Bradford at the weekend, with their Champions League round of 16 clash with Paris St Germain also on the horizon.
And Terry wants the club to fight for every title available as the class of 2014/15 looks to add their names to the Chelsea history books.
"We've got top, top players but, as I've said before, until we go and win things, it's not there yet," the former England captain said.
"That will be the test. We've shown during the first half of the season that we're capable of pushing the top sides and that's what we aim to do.
"There is a motivation in the dressing room to win the league and push on in the Capital One Cup, Champions League and FA Cup. At this stage, to still be involved in all competitions is where you want to be, and it's down to big players to step up."
Terry added: "It (Anfield) is going to be a tough place to go. I think Daniel Sturridge might be back, (Raheem) Sterling is back as well and they proved when we went up there in the league that it's always a tough game.
"You kind of forget form and where they are, it goes out of the window, it's Chelsea v Liverpool. It's going to be tough and over the two legs I just hope we're strong enough."
Thibaut Courtois could return in goal having sat out the last three games with a minor finger injury but Cesar Azpilicueta (groin) is likely to miss out, while the likes of Kurt Zouma, Loic Remy and Andre Schurrle will be hoping for rare starts.
Source: PA
