Crouch ready to stand tall

Peter Crouch insists Liverpool are in the mood to repeat their Champions League semi-final humbling of Chelsea.

The England striker, who was still a Southampton player when Liverpool beat AC Milan in the final in Istanbul in 2005, believes his colleagues know they have the ability for a repeat performance.

But Crouch dismissed Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s claim that Liverpool are the favourites to win tonight’s first leg at Stamford Bridge.

He said: “I don’t know about that. We may have beaten them a few times recently as well as the semi-final before I joined the club.

“But Chelsea are a great side, particularly on their own ground, and they must be favourites.”

Crouch could well be on the bench tonight with Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believed to be considering skipper Steven Gerrard in a support striker role behind Dirk Kuyt, with Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso and Mohamed Sissoko in a defensive midfield trio behind him.

But Crouch reckons Liverpool can produce another telling display against the champions, adding: “They have some injuries and suspensions, but they are still a fine side.

“But we have done well in Europe this season and won some important away matches. And we know we have the ability to beat them, we just have to do it now on the pitch.

“We are certainly up for it, and this seems to be our competition these days. What we must do is to score an away goal, we believe we can do that and it will make a big difference to the second leg in front of our fans at Anfield.”

Benitez also brushed aside Mourinho’s claims that Liverpool will try to get Chelsea players suspended for the second leg.

Didier Drogba, Joe Cole, Arjen Robben, Petr Cech and Lassana Diarra are all one booking away from suspension.

“It had not crossed my mind, but maybe it has Mourinho’s because that is what Chelsea did two seasons ago to Xabi Alonso,” Benitez said.

In the 2005 semi-final Eidur Gudjohnsen was accused of diving to get Alonso booked, ruling him out of the second leg at Anfield which Liverpool won 1-0.

Benitez added: “Maybe that is what Jose did to Alonso. But if that was a message to the referee (Markus Merk), then I can say that if it is a yellow card, that is what it should be. If it is red, then also that is what it should be.

“I have confidence in Markus Merk, he is a very good referee and I am happy with the referees at this level.”