Benitez promises best side of pumped-up Pool

MANAGER Rafael Benitez has promised Liverpool will be at their Champions League best rather than Premiership worst when they confront Chelsea in the first leg of their momentous European semi-final at Stamford Bridge tonight.

The Spaniard has wrestled with a sharply contrasting season in which Liverpool have been an away-day disaster domestically but have produced some stunning triumphs on the continent.

It may only be a short flight to London for the players this time but the Spaniard insists they will produce a display to confound the critics.