Liverpool are currently 12 points behind the current leaders.

In the previous 3 seasons they have finished an average of 22 points behind the respective winners of the Premier league.

In one of these previous seasons they were not even the best team in the city of Liverpool as they finished below Everton.

Is this the record of a 'big' team ?
I recall Steven Gerrard saying that even if they won the champions league this year it would still be a dissapointing season.
The reality is that Liverpool fans delude themselves with the notion they are a big club, the league is what counts and shows who the best teams.

Anto, Lancs ,

It seems to me Benitez is saying exactly the same as what I've heard Chelsea fans saying over the last few weeks.

As for bitter Jerry below, you can try and dismiss what we achieved in the late 70s and 80s but I'm afraid it's you who ends up looking rather silly. And we haven't even finished 4th for the last two seasons, we've finished 3rd.

I'll look forward to the bestest player in the whole wide world, Ronaldo, going missing for 180 minutes....again.

P Smith, Huyton,

Benitez is correct, theres no difference between the Chelsea we see this year and last, and it has to be said, very little difference in Liverpool too. Neither team are free flowing. Both teams play a very tight game. Despite the confidence shown by the previous posters, that would suggest to me that its toss a coin time again, with a slight advantage for Chelsea given that the second leg is at the cauldron of noise that is Stamford Bridge ;-).

Dean, Liverpool,

Makes you laugh re Rafa's views above - Chelsea have been above Liverpool in the league for the past 8 years and were in the semi-final of the Champions League before Abramovich came along - re 'Roman's' team, when liverpool 'won' the Champions League with benetez that was 'Houliers' team!! again pot, kettle, black seems to be the theme.

JK London

J King, London, UK

Jerry in Sidney,

L'pool have won 5 (FIVE) Euro cups; only 4 (FOUR) of which were under the 'old' rules. ManU have only won 2 (two) Euro cups; 1 (one) of which was under the 'old' rules. Your point was what? Should we scratch out their 5 and your 1 cup?

You suggest L'pool are now lucky to be in the competition, not having won the league. I note that ManU didn't win the league in '98. Are you saying that they should not have been entitled to enter the CL in the 98/99 season? Shall we scratch out your 99 and their 05 cups?

To dilute L'pools success would mean doing the same to ManU's. What was your point again - other than jealousy?

Moreover, look a bit further than the headlines folks. I don't believe Rafa was doubting Chelsea's spirit. He was asked about how Chelsea differ under AG as opposed to JM. The full interview shows that he is rightfully very wary and respectful of Chelsea and reckons that is likely to be harder this time with the first leg at Anfield.

Richad, Jersey, C.I.

Steady on, Kypros! Or i'm going to start thinking that you're being even harder on "The Grant" than me. Much as i'd like Chelsea to get through, i have a bad feeling about this one. Liverpool got all the big decisions against Arsenal, and luck may just be on their side. However, ManU would probably trounce Liverpool in the CL final. I might even enjoy watching that.

peter koeb, geneva, switzerland

Well said, Baz. I am so NOT looking forward to the games over the next week. Much as i want Chelsea to overhaul ManU in the EPL, that won't be happening. And who's to say the home record won't be lost.

As for Liverpool in the CL, i just feel that the luck is on the Scousers' side. But the main consolation is that they'll get a pasting from ManU in the final. And that is something i will be very happy to see. (Even as a ManU disliker.)

peter koeb, geneva, switzerland

Chelsea at the moment are not Romans team as they have no leader. Having gone from a manager they would have put their necks on the line for (faces, skulls etc etc) to one that can barely raise an arm to scatch his emotivless noggin they are all now just playing for the shop window that is the summer break and their next lucrative move to greener pastuers. PLayers at this level dont play for the chequebook (how much money does one man need?) they live football and play to be happy and proud. The soul the Jose instilled has been ripped out by Roman and his puppet and as a Chelsea fan I am stunned that our boys have got us this far with no one at the helm. Respect to them and good luck at your new clubs!!!!!!

Baz, Abergwaun, Cymru

Never take the stuff you read in the press on face-value. It's not what Benitez said, it's what the press says Benitez said - i.e. cropped, edited, and without the context of whatever else he said. Forget that, and you deserve to live in fantasyland.

Katspindle, Liverpool, U.K.

Benitez belittled Grant's role, did he? "I don't like to talk about Grant. As a manager, I have a lot of respect for him because he's being correct. I have nothing bad to say." Yep, sounds like it.

Mark Fulker, London,

Liverpool still haven't scored at Stamford Bridge under Benitez in eight games. 1-1 away, 0-0 at home, job done.

Martin Levy, Putney, London

Rafa is absolutely correct! Grant is in that position because of his friendship with Roman. He could not get a job managing a team of Street Sweepers, on the open market. What happened to all the smoke about Sexy football? And Grant can turn Sheva into the Star he was? And Grant is going to take Chelsea into the Golden Age? Give me a break. Grant is useless as a 3 pound note!

Varsi Padayachee, Poolesville, MD USA

So Benitez starts his mind games...not sure what point he is making by describing Chelsea as "Abramovic's team" though. Whose team are Liverpool these days? Hard to tell at the moment. As for the other comments....attritional football? Spending power? (Torres anyone?) Pots and kettles, I'm afraid. Chelsea may be the big spenders, but we now know about the big-money deals Benitez has wanted to make but has been prevented from doing so by Parry's intervention.

In the two previous semi-final meetings, the antipathy between the two managers probably detracted from the football, which was gripping and tense yet lacked real quality. I'm hoping for something better this time, although I'm not over-optimistic. The two Premiership matches this season were pretty awful, and if Chelsea are planning on a home win in the second leg this time, they need a big improvement from the dire 0-0 at the Bridge. If anything, Liverpool were the better side on that occasion.

Roy Pinney, Weston Super Mare,

He won the league at Valencia because of the internal problems at Madrid and Barca. He's failed at pool and has given countless stupid excuses. Even if he's given 100m to spend , he will still fail. Winning the CL has all been lall luck and its about to come to an end. The infighting at pool has helped him in way 'cause the attention is not on him, when the dust settles, he will be next on the agenda, he will be fired or probably jump ship.

Michael, Abuja, Nigeria

Jose only ever made one mistake at Chelsea and that was to belittle Rafael Benítez before the Liverpool Champions League games. Always a dodgy ground to tread on, Raffa appears to be making the same error. Like Liverpool in previous years years this will only give Chelsea extra impetus to win. Rafael Benítez will again finish the season with no silver but instead retain a boardroom spiralling out of control with no solution in sight. Gloomy days for Liverpool unlike Chelsea who will continue to suceed.

Daniel Carroll, Bournemouth, , UK

Good points, Gerry and Paul. You would think Benitez might acquire some humility, given that his team is usually out of contention for the Premiership by about October. Not to mention that his team is only ever really in contention for 1 trophy (the Champions' League - perhaps also one of the domestic Cups in a really good year), whereas Arsenal, United and Chelsea are habitually chasing honours on 2, 3 or 4 fronts until late in the season.

Also not sure why Benitez is criticizing CFC for being "Abramovic's team"....at least we can tell whose team they are, unlike the current shambles at Anfield.

In fact, these comments are indicative of a huge drop in the standard of managerial gamesmanship and mind games by the coaches of the "Big Four" . See also Wenger's recent bizarre claim that Arsenal were about to win the Premership and Champs League - a week later they were out of both. Where is Mourinho when you need him, to bring in some wit and charisma, and also some humour.

Roy Pinney, Weston Super Mare,

How Benitez can question Chelsea's style of play when Liverpool play such a similar game. As a Utd fan, it is clear that Arsenal and Utd are technically far superior to either of the above who build their games around attrition. Also when we have to listen to Liverpool supporters gibbering on about their 5 European Cups, they forget that when they won them only one English team was allowed into Europe. They are fortunate that a consistent underperformance of finishing fourth allows them entry to Europe.

Jerry, Sydney,

Benitez or "Oliver Hardy" as i like to call didnt need to light the blue touch paper in such a way.

A team that spends as heavily as Liverpool each season whilst endevouring to only finish 3rd and 4th each season should not really belittle Chelsea this way.

Chelsea will humiliate Liverpool over 2 legs. Benitez will be made to look a little stupid come next wednesday.

paul, london, england

Chelsea had basically as strong a squad last season, with Mourinho managing, Kypros, and Liverpool beat them & they had no clean sweep.
Anyway, a week or so from now & it'll be 3 times dumped out of the CL by Liverpool for Chelsea. Money can't buy everything. What a shame.

Andrew, Cork, Ireland

I beleive Chelsea were a more of a threat under Mourinho..... Grant lacks several features which were clearly visible in Mourinhio.... One major was i beleive is discipline... Mourinhio had a reputation of being the 'heated one", this i anticipate was becuase of his cheekyness and bad attitude towards rival managers.... Avram Grant on the other hand, seems very soft.
Nevertheless, Liverpool have it all, a pure class manager, pure class players, just a ridicoulous owners....
Liverpool all the way... 2-0...
Liverpool vs Barcelone Final.
Lets not forget that liverpool have scored the most goals in the Champions League soo far!

SCOUSER, liverpool,

Rafa must be laughing not having to face Mourinho. However, I still believe in the Chelsea players (NOT the manager) to rise to the occasion and beat Liverpool over two legs. Chelsea have the best squad in England and with any other manager they would have had a clean sweep of all the trophies. Grant, is naive, inept and totally useless as a manager/team motivator.

KYPROS SHACOLAS, Nicosia, Cyprus

Drogba going at the end of the season, Ben Haim saying he never would have signed for Chelsea if he knew Grant would be manager, Kenyon refusing to say that Grant will still be manager next season....you have a strange defintion of stability.

Gerry B, Liverpool, uk

2nd in the league and in the semi's of the CL,yes,our team spirit is very suspect. It's a good job Chelsea players don't let the off-field situation affect them,unlike at anfield.

Paul Mcgoochan, Bury St Edmunds,

Benitez may question the spirit of Avram's men but he will have to prove that he has a better team by beating Chelsea. Can he do that? All will be revealed soon!

Don Perera, Melbourne, Australia