Bodog Beat

Ashley Cole scored Chelsea's only goal in the first round of Champions league semifinal play (AP Images)

Liverpool (+135) will have to show some grit against English premiership rivals Chelsea (+180) on May 1 if they hope to turn the tables in their favor and move ahead to the Champions League football final on May 23 in Athens.

Liverpool won the 2005 competition after knocking out the same Chelsea side, but finds itself in a tough spot after losing to the club at Stamford Bridge by a score of 1-0 in the first leg of the competition's semi-finals.  

"We didn't play well in the first game, but we lost only 1-0 which means there is not a lot of difference between the teams," says Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez. "If you can play below your level and only lose by a goal, it means if you raise your level you must have a really good chance. We can use the memories of two years ago to our advantage because we know what the players and fans can do working together."

Benitez rested lanky striker Peter Crouch during last weekend's Premiership play against Portsmouth but Crouch will certainly factor in the second leg of the semi-final.

"He's the tallest footballer I've ever faced but I'm ready," says Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien. "He can beat me to the aerial balls but I can win balls on the ground."  

Crouch changed play considerably when he came on in the second half of the first match and the English international has been a force in the Premiership this season, leading the Liverpool side with 18 goals.

Chelsea will be without the services of striker Andriy Shevchenko, as well as players Ricardo Carvalho, and Michael Ballack. 

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