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With Chelsea reeling from FA Cup humiliation, Liverpool will visit Stamford Bridge for their League Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday with increased confidence of reaching the final.
Liverpool were unfortunate not to emerge victorious from last week’s first leg at Anfield, drawing 1-1, and they will scent blood after Chelsea were bundled out of the FA Cup by third-tier Bradford City on Saturday.
Liverpool’s own FA Cup tie did not go quite according to plan, a 0-0 draw with Championship side Bolton Wanderers leaving them with an unwanted replay, but they were at least spared the embarrassment that befell Chelsea.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho branded the result a “disgrace” and declared himself “ashamed” after seeing the Premier League leaders throw away a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 to a team 51 places below them in the English league pyramid.
Elimination by Liverpool on Tuesday would see his side’s potential trophy haul cut in half in the space of four days, leaving the west London club with only the league and Champions League as objectives.
“The most important competition now is the Capital One Cup because it is the next game,” said Mourinho.
“We lost at home against a lower division team and in an ideal word it will affect us in a positive, not a negative way, like we have to win the next match and let’s go for it. But I don’t know.”
Liverpool’s preparations have been further aided by the news that former Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge could make his return in the game after close to five months on the sidelines with thigh and calf injuries.
“He’s had the final rehab with the medical and sports science guys and will join with the group,” said manager Brendan Rodgers.
“Now it’s just about getting that condition and football fitness and game fitness. We’ll see how he is for Tuesday. If he isn’t ready for Tuesday, he’ll be back against West Ham next weekend.”
Chelsea approached the tie as favourites, but Liverpool’s first-leg display suggested that they have overcome their early-season difficulties.
After Eden Hazard’s penalty was cancelled out by a fine solo goal from Raheem Sterling, Liverpool came closest to securing victory, with Steven Gerrard notably hitting the post.
Liverpool have now gone 10 games without defeat in all competitions and Rodgers voiced confidence after the first leg that his side would finish the job at Stamford Bridge.
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