Riise, Liverpool hoping to bounce back against Chelsea

The Associated Press ,  London   |  Wed, 04/30/2008 4:35 AM  |  Sports

John Arne Riise is finished dwelling on his last-second own-goal that gave Chelsea a 1-1 draw against Liverpool in the Champions League semifinals.

After spending a day to recover from the ill-fated clearance header that sent the ball into his own net - and gave Chelsea a clear edge ahead of Wednesday's return leg - the Norway defender
said he's hoping for a chance to make amends at Stamford Bridge.

"Nobody wants to score an own-goal, but people make mistakes - and nobody will blame me if it's 0-0 on Wednesday and we don't go through," Riise said. "But nobody is even thinking about that. We are going to try and get a win and hopefully we will get it. Then, the first-leg result and the own-goal won't matter. We know we can do it."

Riise said he spent last Wednesday mulling over the mistake.

"I just went home and I didn't want to speak to anyone. I just had to think about it myself," he said. "I realized you just have to move on and now I think I have."

Liverpool is also hoping its greater Champions League experience can help overcome Chelsea's stellar home record.

The Reds have won Europe's top club competition five times, and have eliminated Chelsea in the semifinals twice in the last three years.

"We all remember the moment we lost the semifinal (last season)," Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech said Tuesdy. "This could be one of he driving forces for us tomorrow, for us to finally get
through."

The Blues have never reached the Champions League final, but are undefeated in 81 games at Stamford Bridge - and Liverpool has never even scored a goal there under manager Rafa Benitez.

Still, Benitez said th pressure is on Chelsea, with fans feeling a spot in the final is long overdue.

"I think they want to win clearly and all their supporters will push and try to support the team," Benitez said. "The players know it's an important game for them - three years to (get to) the final, they will be a little bit under pressure."

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is confident his side can again rise to the occasion in European play.

"I'll be realistic and say the advantage lies with Chelsea now," Gerrard said. "They are a very good team and they have been very strong at home for a long time. But we have shon over the last few years that we are a very good team away from home in Europe - and we want to go to Stamford Bridge and prove ourselves again."

Liverpool won the last of its five European Cups in 2005 when it recovered from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalty kicks. It lost to AC Milan in last season' final and Liverpool also lost to
Juventus in the 1985 final, which was overshadowed by the deaths of 39 people because of rioting in Heysel Stadium.

Chelsea's only European success was in the now defunct European Cup Winners' Cup, which it won in 1971 and 1998. It's not for want of trying - the Blues are n the Champions League semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons.

"Chelsea wants to be a big club and do that we need to win the Champions League," Chelsea manager Avram Grant said. "It is very important and can also create history for Chelsea."

Reaching the final in Moscow would certainly mak it harder for Chelsea to get rid of Grant, who took over from the popular Jose Mourinho in September.

Grant has struggled to win over the fans - particularly after Chelsea lost to Tottenham in the League Cup final on Feb. 24. After Saturday's 2-1 victory over Manchester United, however, he is confident of winning the Premier League and the Champions League.

"If you come to this stage and are not optimistic, you do not need to be in sports," Grant said after the United win. "You need to be very optimistic from game to game and also during the game."

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is a doubt for the game after his mother, Pat, died on Thursday from pneumonia. Lampard missed the United game, but trained Sunday.

Grant said it is up to Lampard if he wants to play.

"We leave this to him," Grant said. "It is not easy what's happened."

After a 1-1 draw in the league at Anfield in August, Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the quarterfinals of the League Cup in December. The teams played a scoreless draw at Stamford Bridge in the league in February.

"We really feel that we are as good as Chelsea, if not better than them," Gerrard said. "We have certainly been the better team when we've played them this season."

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien returns after missing the first leg through suspension. Three players will miss the final if they receive a yellow card, including both captains - John Terry of
Chelsea and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard. Reds defender Jamie Carragher will also miss out if he is booked. (***)

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