Jury out on Jônatas fitness

Monday, 30 April 2007

RCD Espanyol midfielder Jônatas is a doubt for the UEFA Cup semi-final second leg at Werder Bremen after the Brazilian suffered a groin injury during Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Sevilla FC.

Late decision
Jônatas, used as a second-half substitute in the 3-0 first-leg triumph over Bremen, was injured early in the game in Seville and Espanyol will leave it as late as possible before deciding on his fitness for Thursday's match in Germany. The 24-year-old, signed last summer from CR Flamengo, has made 16 Primera División appearances for the Catalan club as well as four in the UEFA Cup.

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Owen makes Newcastle comeback

Monday, 30 April 2007

Newcastle United FC striker Michael Owen has played for the first time since the 2006 FIFA World Cup, lasting the full 90 minutes of Monday's Premiership defeat at Reading FC.

Offside goal
Owen, who had damaged knee ligaments in England's World Cup group-stage draw with Sweden last June, started the match and had the ball in the net within seven minutes, although an offside flag denied the 27-year-old the glory of a comeback goal.

Reading claim honours
In the event, the only score of the game came from Reading forward Dave Kitson on 51 minutes to secure a victory that lifted the home team into seventh place in the table. Newcastle signed Owen from Real Madrid CF for €24m in 2005, but the former Liverpool FC prodigy endured an injury-interrupted first campaign in the north-east before sustaining the ligament damage in Germany. Tonight was just his 12th league appearance for Newcastle for whom he has scored seven goals.

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Alonso wants Chelsea chance

Monday, 30 April 2007
by John Mathewsfrom Liverpool

Xabi Alonso knows the heartache of missing out on a UEFA Champions League semi-final after serving a suspension when Liverpool FC met Chelsea FC two years ago, but even though he is eligible to start this time around the Spanish international does not have a clue if he is playing on Tuesday night.

'Different options'
On the eve of the match, Alonso revealed Liverpool's lineup is still known only to manager Rafael Benítez as he plots a repeat of their 2005 defeat of Chelsea with the added burden of trailing 1-0 from the first leg. However, the 25-year-old has every faith in his boss and his policy of keeping everyone on their toes until the last minute. "The last few games we have rotated players. We have different options in most of the positions and that's something that's good for us," said Alonso. "I don't know how fresh they [Chelsea] are but I feel that at the moment our team is in great shape."

Chelsea 'favourites'
The midfielder was a frustrated onlooker at the famous Anfield second-leg encounter between the teams in 2005, when he was understandably "really disappointed" to sit on the sidelines, but he is delighted to have another chance to influence the outcome – if selected. "At this moment they [Chelsea] are the favourites," said Alonso. "Knowing that we are so close to the final, everyone is so excited and looking forward to the game." Asked if Liverpool are now a better side than the one that knocked Chelsea out 1-0 on aggregate en route to lifting the trophy in Istanbul, Alonso replied: "That's something we have to show on the pitch but of course we have developed and progressed. Hopefully we will reach the final and win again."

Higher tempo
Alonso insists Liverpool have learnt lessons from their reverse at Chelsea last week and they are planning to begin with a higher tempo than their noticeably sluggish first-half performance at Stamford Bridge. He said: "In the first leg we made some mistakes that we have been working on and will try not to commit again. We will maybe play with a little more intensity and, of course, we know that it's very important not to concede a goal because if that happens the situation will be more complicated. With just being involved in one competition, we are absolutely focused on the [UEFA] Champions League and that's why all our commitment is in this."

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Crouch no tall order for Essien

Monday, 30 April 2007
by John Mathewsfrom Liverpool

Chelsea FC midfielder Michael Essien knows he will literally have a huge job on his hands as he steps back into UEFA Champions League action in an unfamiliar role at the heart of the defence, hoping to stop Liverpool FC scoring the goals that would end his dreams of playing in the final.

Daunting prospect
Essien was suspended for the first leg at Stamford Bridge, when Chelsea carved out a 1-0 lead to bring up to Anfield for the semi-final second leg, and with regular centre-back Ricardo Carvalho out injured, the Ghanaian international has the daunting prospect of taking on Liverpool's two-metre tall striker Peter Crouch on Tuesday night. "He's the tallest I have ever faced and he is always difficult to play against, but I'm ready," said Essien. "I have never seen a footballer who is taller than him. He can beat me to the aerial balls but I can win balls on the ground."

Defensive vulnerability
Crouch tormented Essien when the teams met in the Premiership at Anfield in January. The England forward's flick set up the first goal in a 2-0 win for Liverpool which exposed Chelsea's vulnerability at the back without captain John Terry, who missed the league defeat as he recovered from injury. With Terry in the side again, Essien feels he has less to worry about on this occasion. "It's good to have John beside me. He's more defensive and has more experience than me so he's going to teach me how to do it," said the 24-year-old. "When we lost, JT wasn't here and the boss played me and Paulo Ferreira at the back. It was difficult to deal with Peter Crouch but I think tomorrow will be a different story. JT is back and he is more powerful in the air."

The atmosphere in the dressing room is great and the confidence is highMichael Essien

Confidence high
Essien, whose last-gasp strike eliminated Valencia CF in the quarter-finals, is convinced Chelsea have got what it takes to withstand the pressure and reach the UEFA Champions League final for the first time in their history. "The atmosphere in the dressing room is great and the confidence is high. We came here to win and hopefully we can do that but even if we draw, we will be in the final," he said. "We always have the belief in ourselves that we can do it, but we will see what happens."

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Benítez expects Chelsea to Kop it

Monday, 30 April 2007
by John Mathewsfrom Liverpool
The red half of Liverpool is buzzing with nervous anticipation ahead of Chelsea FC's visit for the UEFA Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, and manager Rafael Benítez is convinced the Anfield crowd will have a massive impact on the second leg as Liverpool FC attempt to retrieve a 1-0 deficit. Opposite number José Mourinho might have other ideas but Benítez said Liverpool's fans are the true "special ones".
Passionate supportThe Kop roared Liverpool on to what has become a legendary 1-0 victory against Chelsea in the semi-final two years ago, with Luis García's winner coming off the back of a tidal wave of passionate support, and Benítez is expecting more of the same from the locals this time round. "We will try to use the influence of our people and the atmosphere will be really important," the Spanish coach said. "I am sure that they [Chelsea] will see Anfield is very, very difficult for them. I know they have had this experience before. You can say it's not really a problem but you know it will be a problem for them. Our supporters - they are the special ones."

'We will attack'
For his part Mourinho, who has lost Andriy Shevchenko to a groin problem picked up in training, has promised not to sit back and try to protect a one-goal lead as Chelsea bid to set up a showdown in Athens against either Manchester United FC or AC Milan. "We will attack," he said. "We know if we don't concede goals, we are in the final so of course that is an objective, but we also know that if we score that is a big advantage. You cannot defend perfectly for 90 minutes so I think a very good way to play this game would be to scare the opponents."

Title exertions
Already assured of UEFA Champions League football next season, Liverpool rested most of their first team in Saturday's 2-1 Premiership defeat at Portsmouth FC, while Chelsea suffered a huge blow to their title hopes as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Bolton Wanderers FC, leaving them five points behind leaders Manchester United with three games to play. Mourinho said: "The opponent is at home. They are a team who have had one week to rest and prepare for this game against another team that had to play two days ago and had to fight physically and mentally in the title race, so I don't see our team to be favourites."

Carvalho blow
Michael Essien returns from suspension for Chelsea, with a likely role at centre-back alongside captain John Terry as Ricardo Carvalho sustained a knee injury against Bolton. Michael Ballack has undergone ankle surgery which will keep him out for the rest of the campaign, so Mourinho will be forced to make the most of his enviable resources. The Portuguese coach predicted that Liverpool's lineup will be "Peter Crouch plus ten", insisting that the giant striker is an "obvious" aerial weapon against his makeshift defence, despite the England forward not starting the first leg in London.

Probable teams
Liverpool: Pepe Reina; Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, Álvaro Arbeloa; Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso, John Arne Riise; Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt.

Chelsea: Petr Čech; Paulo Ferreira, Michael Essien, John Terry, Ashley Cole; John Obi Mikel, Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole; Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou.

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