Arbeloa: Let's remember Istanbul

Alvaro Arbeloa was winning promotion with Real Madrid’s reserves when Liverpool were producing their miracle in Istanbul to claim the Champions League trophy.

But the Spain international knows only too well that, for the Reds to stay in this season’s competition, it will need a performance of that magnitude when they face Chelsea on Tuesday in the quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool are 3-1 down and in need of three goals in 90 minutes as the minimum requirement to halt Chelsea’s charge to the semi-finals and a probable clash with Barcelona, who are 4-0 ahead from their first leg with Bayern Munich.

Nobody, outside of the most fanatical Liverpool fans, expects to see Liverpool survive this one, such was Chelsea’s mastery in Wednesday’s remarkable win at Anfield.

But while there is still a match to play there is hope for Liverpool, even if it is an unlikely repeat of the 2005 final in Turkey – when AC Milan led 3-0 before being hauled back and beaten on penalties – that they are desperately searching for now.

Arbeloa said: “We can do it – why not? We believe we can. We have to go there and fight, try to get one goal and then think about another.

“Liverpool won a Champions League final by scoring three goals in 45 minutes, so why can’t we get three in 90?

“I think we have to remember Istanbul and believe. We know it is going to be difficult to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but it’s not over.”

Liverpool led 1-0 after six minutes of the first leg thanks to a Fernando Torres strike, but two Branislav Ivanovic headers turned the tie on its head before Didier Drogba inflicted more pain on the hosts at Anfield.

Arbeloa added: “Maybe we defended too deep after the first goal. We gave them too much of the ball. We conceded a second and that was painful. And then we conceded again.”

Liverpool will have midfielder Javier Mascherano back from a one-match suspension, but could be without Steven Gerrard as he battles to overcome another groin problem.

The 28-year-old skipper underwent scans on the injury on Thursday evening and was an unused substitute for the 4-0 home win over Blackburn in the Premier League.

Brazilian youngster Lucas, who was Mascherano’s stand-in for the first clash with Chelsea, could again find himself involved at Stamford Bridge.

He said: “We know it will be really difficult but it’s not impossible. Chelsea came here and scored three, and we have the quality to do the same there.

“We will have to try until the very last minute at Stamford Bridge. I think we need the perfect performance.

“It is a different game but we have shown already this season we can win 4-1 at places like Old Trafford.”

Lucas’ countryman Fabio Aurelio is equally defiant, saying: “I believe the team is capable of responding now after such a defeat.

“We must do better, especially after Chelsea achieved such a good advantage for the second leg. We have to believe we can change things.”

Boss Rafael Benitez knows he must rally his side for one, last, supreme effort.

He said: “Maybe it is Istanbul we should remember.

“Chelsea have quality. They are physical strong with very good players.

“But we are ahead of them in the Premier League because we have been playing very well. But in this Champions League tie we just made too many individual mistakes.

“We have to correct this if we are to continue winning games and stay in the race for trophies.

“The players were very upset after the first game but, just as in Istanbul when we were 3-0 at half-time and seemingly beaten, they were told just to think of getting one goal back and see what happens.

“Then you think of scoring again, and then again. But you do not go into the game thinking how much you have to do. Mentally you need to be calm and change things slowly.”