Source: SKY_Sports
Blues and Reds clash again
Liverpool's UEFA Champions League adventure against Chelsea continues after the pair were pitched together in the draw for the quarter-finals. The draw also saw Manchester United paired with Porto, while Arsenal will take on Villarreal. Barcelona and Bayern Munich will meet in the other match.Sky Sports will broadcast the first leg of the Liverpool v Chelsea clash plus the crucial second legs in the ties involving the Gunners and United.Next month's two-legged clash means Liverpool and Chelsea will have faced each other five times in the competition in recent years.The first leg will take place on 8th April - and Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry was relieved that the second leg at Chelsea will not take place on 15th April, the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.He said: "I'm literally just getting news that we will be playing on April 14. It is a huge relief and a good outcome."He added on Sky Sports News: "We know what we've got to do over the two legs. We know what we're capable of doing so we will get on with it now."Chelsea's interim boss Guus Hiddink said his players were looking forward to the Liverpool clash."It's getting more and more exciting at the end of the Champions League season," he said."If you have great desire to get to the end in May, you have to play them - Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona. I'm OK with the draw."Both teams like to play football and have players in their teams to play in an attacking way. That's a guarantee for big clashes."His Liverpool counterpart Rafa Benitez insists Manchester United are favourites to retain their crown.He said: "Manchester United must now be favourites, they have an easier draw than us. Our half of the draw is the more difficult now after this draw."But Benitez was pleased that the prospect of Liverpool having to play on the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster has now gone.He said: "Obviously we did not want to do that and with the second leg of our quarter-final now scheduled for London on the 14th, our wishes have been agreed with."InfluenceUnited boss Sir Alex Ferguson expressed his pleasure with United's draw with Porto.The Scot said: "This is a good draw for us, we've met Porto before and obviously we respect any Portuguese team."We have had a huge Portuguese influence in the club - firstly with Carlos Queiroz but now with Cristiano (Ronaldo) and Nani - so we understand Portuguese football."Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was pleased to have home advantage in the second leg but does not consider opponents Villarreal to be underdogs.The Gunners dumped the Spanish side out in the semi-finals in 2006 but Wenger said: "It is a difficult 50/50 draw."We know Villarreal and we have the experience having played them before. It is maybe a good opportunity to play the first game away."In this game there is no real favourite and if I show you what has been said in the newspapers over the last six months you cannot put us as a favourite."Now many players go away on international duty and I hope we don't lose players through injuries because many of our players are coming back now from injuries. It looks like we are in a good situation."Should Arsenal and United both progress they will meet each other in the semi-finals, with the winners of the Liverpool v Chelsea tie taking on either Barcelona or Bayern Munich.Champions League quarter-final drawVillarreal v Arsenal - second leg live on Sky SportsManchester United v Porto - second leg live on Sky SportsLiverpool v Chelsea - first leg live on Sky Sports 2Barcelona v Bayern Munich - first leg live on Sky Sports XtraTies to be played on 7th/8th April and 14th/15th April.Champions League semi-final drawManchester United or Porto v Villarreal or ArsenalBarcelona or Bayern Munich v Liverpool or ChelseaTies to be played on 28th/29th April and 5th/6th May.