Home comfort for Rafa

Rafael Benitez believes his Liverpool side will have the upper hand in their Champions League semi-final with Chelsea because the second-leg is at Anfield.

That will rekindle memories of the momentous clash between the pair two seasons ago when Liverpool won with a disputed Luis Garcia goal before heading off to Istanbul where they beat AC Milan in the final.

Now, once again, Liverpool must go to Stamford Bridge for the first-leg, and Benitez said: "They may not accept what happened here two years ago, but they cannot change things now. We are pleased we will play the second-leg at Anfield. If we can do something at Stamford Bridge, maybe we will then have the advantage."

He added: "They know that. But playing counter-attack like they did in Valencia shows how dangerous they are in away games.

"Now it's Chelsea again, they know us and we know them very well. From our point of view it is positive that we are in another semi-final, and to see three English teams at this stage shows just how strong the Premier League is.

"It is really important for the Premier League to show Europe how strong we are, it is the best league in Europe at this moment."

Benitez revealed that striker Craig Bellamy will have a scan on an injured right knee on Thursday and could be out for a fortnight.

That will make it touch and go whether the Welshman is fit for the first leg with Chelsea on April 25.

By then, the war of words and mind games between Benitez and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will be in full swing.