Read on if you're a Liverpool fan. needless to say i was horrified when john arne riise scored an own goal deep in injury time. i was ready to turn off the tv and go to sleep when the tragedy struck. as a result i lay on my bed, thinking about that own goal and couldn't go to sleep, it was such a bitter pill to swallow. super super super super bitter... it was a cruel twist of fate because liverpool were clearly the better side. nvm, i shall follow RAFA BENITEZ and be confident, and positive, that we will go to stamford bridge and get the result that will take us on a plane to moscow.

By Paul Tomkins

If the result, and the timing of the Chelsea goal, still frustrates me, then, as with last year's final, I can take heart from how much better Liverpool now are. If you use the games themselves as markers of progress, and ignore the result, then you'll see a massive swing from 2005 to 2007, and again in 2008, in terms of how the Reds have dealt with AC Milan and Chelsea. In 2005 it was about hanging on for dear life, but in 2007 and 2008 it has been the Reds increasingly making the running. Then there's the fact that after annual losses away at Arsenal, the Reds got two draws there last month. In the league, the Reds also drew away at Chelsea for the first time under Benítez, having shaded the game. These are only indicators, but to me they are evidence of a side progressing. The only remaining bogey ground is Old Trafford. Stamford Bridge and the Emirates hold less fear now. In the games against the big sides, which was always seen as Benítez's undoing, Liverpool have looked more evenly matched against the opposition. Liverpool are now a better football team than in 2005, and a better team than in 2006/07. Indeed, and most crucial to my point, they are even a far better team than in the early months of this season. Now that the new signings have settled, we can clearly see that. Torres was impressing in patches early on, but as an individual; now the whole attacking unit has a nice balance and an ever-blossoming understanding. Gerrard and Kuyt are linking particularly well on the right, for instance. Babel, meanwhile, should find greater consistency as he matures and adapts to the frenetic pace, but in the second half of the season has been more of a threat to the opposition. Beyond next week's game, can the Reds take what has been learned since the turn of the year into next season? Improvements can always be made, and will be made, but I don't see too much wrong with the core of what's there right now. Add Daniel Agger to the equation, and have Alonso fit and sharp for the whole campaign, and there would be two big improvements already. But recent changes and additions made by Benítez are already working out. Skrtel and Mascherano are proving real defensive Trojans. Torres and Babel offer cut and thrust, pace and skill, and on the right, in Dirk Kuyt, we are seeing an amazing transformation –– a player who will tackle and harry and get up and down the pitch like the very best wide midfielders (a different breed from ‘wingers'), but who has the instincts of a striker when he gets into the box. Crucially, he has the energy to mix both roles. Against Chelsea he was superb yet again. And while the quantity of goals has been below what he would have hoped for in the last 12 months, there's no doubting the quality of opposition he's scored against: AC Milan, Arsenal, Inter Milan and Chelsea. Crucially, he's actually looking more prolific from the right wing. Add two massive penalties away at Everton, and you can see that he is a man for the big occasion. And if he stays in the role next season, there should be further improvement, too, as he learns more about a position he first played at Utrecht as a youngster. In the centre of midfield last night, Alonso and Mascherano were outstanding. And although Gerrard didn't get on the ball in dangerous areas as much as hoped, and Torres wasn't at his sharpest in front of goal, in addition to Babel having a slow start to the game, there were points in the match, mostly the 25 minutes either side of half-time, when every aspect of Benítez's team was working perfectly in tandem. It just couldn't make that domination pay. Some might say that Chelsea are not as strong as in 2005, but they actually have more league points per-game under Avram Grant than Jose Mourinho managed. Grant took over with Chelsea stuttering under the Shy One. But like most people, I've no idea just how good Grant is, because he's taken Mourinho's team, which is a mature and experienced one at that, and changed little, other than adding a £15m striker to the bench in Anelka. But clearly he's not a bad manager, as he's had too many good results, particularly when his team aren't playing well. However, it's a tad easier to manage when you pick virtually your strongest team, and have £108m of talent not included. But whatever the state of Chelsea, this was the best Liverpool have played in any of the semi-finals; certainly on the balance of chances and employment of the keepers. Liverpool's front two of Torres and Gerrard didn't have their best night, mainly because Chelsea had so many men behind the ball, but even so they forced Cech to earn his corn on a number of occasions. Desperate defending denied Alonso, and Babel's swerving shot was a fraction wide. Let's be clear –– the refereeing was as bad as Cech was good. I've never seen a more blatant free-kick that wasn't given than when Ashley Cole took out Kuyt. Cole also pushed Kuyt in the box with both hands, and yet any time a Liverpool player went near Drogba, it was a free-kick, even if Drogba was the one backing in. Chelsea felt they should have had a penalty for Carragher's challenge on Drogba, but it looked like Carra got the slightest nick on the ball, and even then, it was outside the box. But then Liverpool rarely get a decision against Chelsea. I don't think Liverpool have had a penalty against Chelsea in all 19 games under Benítez, despite pushes, trips and players punching the ball off the line. The famous decision the Reds did get –– Luis Garcia's shot crossing the line –– saved Chelsea from a red card and what would have been a penalty, which the ref admitted he was going to award. So they even got off lightly there. Once the shock wears off, we'll come to realise what felt like a defeat was only a draw. And while Rafa will go looking for a win, a score draw is all that is needed next week to either take it into extra-time, or, if it's 2-2 or 3-3 (unlikely, perhaps), through to the final. I hated the home second-leg games against Chelsea (last season) and Arsenal because of the fear of conceding the away goal, but now it's Chelsea's problem to worry about. It's more delicately poised than it feels. Chelsea now have that uncertainty that dogged Liverpool against Arsenal and made for such a nervous start. If the Reds can have the tie in their favour after 85 minutes at Stamford Bridge, as did Arsenal at Anfield, then I'd expect the Benítez's team to hang on better than the Gunners were able to. As clear favourites, Chelsea will now have a lot of pressure to deal with. And Liverpool like being underdogs; every team does, because it's liberating. Stamford Bridge might actually be buzzing for once, with all the handed-out plastic flags, but it'll be an expectant, demanding crowd. My main concern, however, is that Chelsea will feel like this is their year, after the timing of the goal, and the gifted nature of it. It's just a question of how their desperation to do what Liverpool did in ‘05 and ‘07 (and '77, ‘78 '81, '84 and '85) and get to a final affects their nerves, and how Liverpool, having already been there and done that, can relax and play their natural game. Chelsea need the final more, as it's something they've yet to achieve, and something which is demanded after spending three times as much as Liverpool in recent seasons. When the desire to win becomes a desperation, it can inhibit players. Chelsea's game against Manchester United is obviously another big factor in how they can afford to plan for Wednesday's game, and the psychological state they'll be in. But it wouldn't surprise me to see Chelsea field a stronger team against Liverpool than for the weekend's clash. And anyway, they've got such a large squad, they can afford to alter things and not be too weakened. So whatever happens, I feel it's another marker in terms of progress on the pitch for Benítez's team. The gelling between system and personnel these past few months has been key; it just wasn't possible when the players were so new. There were some backwards steps in the first half of the season, but it was in order to take big strides forward. Other signs of progress: how well the 'squad' team played away against Fulham and Arsenal –– in 2004/05 and 2006/07 the Reds couldn't get away results with the best XI; the back-to-back Youth Cup successes of 2006 and 2007; and the incredible achievement of a teenage reserve side that walked its league. So with that in mind, there is plenty to be optimistic about, even if, for the first time under Benítez, the season ends as early as the last day of April.

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a fan :

We were incredibly unlucky. We were the better team until that goal after 94 minutes plus. Missed chances for us proved costly and it was a shame when Fabio was injured. But we are by no means out of this tie especially if we play like that again. Liverpool always rally when it comes to the underdog status.

Anfield Faithful, LFC.TV Message Boards

The former player

I thought Liverpool played really well and to concede a goal like that at the end was hard to take. I thought John Arne Riise should have tried to clear the ball with his right foot but the goal has given Chelsea the advantage. I still feel Liverpool can score at Stamford Bridge and the tie certainly isn't over. We are still dreaming. David Fairclough

The player

Obviously we're disappointed with the late goal but it's done. We've got to pick ourselves up. We've got to get a result at the weekend then give it everything we can at Stamford Bridge. We know this tie is not over. It's my job as captain to pick the boys up and make sure we're ready for next week. Let people say Chelsea are favourites, let them. We've got to block that out and do what we've got to do. We are confident we can beat Chelsea on their patch. Steven Gerrard

The boss

These kind of situations are really difficult so you cannot blame the player. These kind of balls bouncing are really difficult to defend against. Everyone was really disappointed after the game but the only thing we can do now is to be positive and think about the next game and try to be ready. Normally when you concede a goal at the end you must be really disappointed but we know we need to go to Stamford Bridge and win. I am really disappointed, especially with the own goal in the last minute but I'm now thinking about the second game at Stamford Bridge. We have 90 minutes and if we create as many chances as we had tonight we will take our chances. Rafa Benitez

yes i believe too and i'm dreaming of moscow, COME ON YOU REDS!!!!!!!! YNWA