Benitez insists Cup rivals respect each other despite history

RAFAEL BENITEZ insists there will be mutual respect between Chelsea and Liverpool in their FA Cup semi-final despite familiarity breeding a degree of contempt in the matches between them this season and last.

The draw for the last four pitted the sides together for their fifth meeting of the current campaign, with Middlesbrough or Charlton taking on West Ham in the other semi-final.

Chelsea completed a Premiership double over the Reds last month, while the two Champions League group meetings between the sides ended goalless. However, the games were most notable for some unsavoury moments on the field and various swipes at one another in the press.