Avram Grant’s mildly daunting job description is to win the Champions League while playing the best football on the planet. But Roman Abramovich may let him off the hook for the latter if he achieves the former.

Chelsea’s owner will certainly forgive and forget the grim grind of this chaotic quarter-final win if it leads to his “Blue Army” invading Moscow on May 21, but they must first establish mastery over the red half of Merseyside.

The first-team coach appeared ignorant of recent history when he had to be asked three times last night whether Chelsea could make it a case of third time lucky against Liverpool, but, for everyone else at the club, those two semi-final defeats remain a recurring nightmare. Even José Mourinho, the former manager, is still haunted by Luis García’s “ghost goal” three years ago, never mind last season’s penalty shoot-out exit.

It is fitting that Chelsea must beat Liverpool to secure passage to the Luzhniki Stadium because such an accomplishment would finally allow Grant to step out of the shadow of his predecessor. Abramovich has staked his reputation on the unlikely prospect of an ordinary boy surpassing the achievements of the Special One, but certain factors are in Grant’s favour.

Even the redoubtable John Terry admitted to being intimidated by the Anfield crowd 12 months ago, but it will be less potent in the first leg in a fortnight, with Chelsea enjoying the advantage of playing the decisive match at Stamford Bridge on April 30, although Liverpool’s biggest weapon could simply have been replaced by another, namely Fernando Torres.

Whatever happens, Grant has done enough to keep his job for another year because he has already matched Mourinho’s achievements in the Champions League and Barclays Premier League last season and could yet surpass them. The softly spoken Israeli is not one for making valedictory statements, but he was well within his rights to point out the progress that has been made since he was appointed in September. “I took over after a poor result against Rosenborg in the Champions League, with five teams ahead of us in the Premier League,” he said. “I said I believed we could do good things this season and we’re close.”

Grant was wise to resist crowing too loudly after a disjointed performance, however, as Fenerbahçe caused the odd moment of panic. Ironically, much of Chelsea’s play came from the Mourinho manual of winning ugly, only without the control. After Michael Ballack had gone some way to calming nerves with a fourth-minute header, Chelsea endured moments of anxiety, notably when Hilário, who replaced the injured Carlo Cuducini in the first half, was called on to make two smart saves in the 83rd minute, before Frank Lampard settled things with his eighteenth goal of the season four minutes later.

The England midfield player had had a poor game, but his goals remain priceless, something for the club to keep in mind when contract negotiations resume in the summer. Such was their frustration that many of the home fans turned on Didier Drogba midway through the second half because of his fitful finishing and reversion to the role of a “diving diva”. It was significant that Grant refused to defend him afterwards, suggesting that he is already preparing for life without the Ivory Coast striker next season. “People said before we couldn’t win without Drogba, but now we can,” he said.

Chelsea had begun with the same pace and purpose that they had produced in the first half in Istanbul, but again failed to sustain it, so it was just as well that they took an early lead. Lampard’s free kick from the right was met powerfully at the near post by Ballack, with the Germany captain rising imperiously above Edu for his sixth goal of a season that began only in December after a long-term injury.

With Ballack driving them forward, Chelsea briefly pushed for a second, but, other than a couple of speculative shots from Drogba and a drive by Joe Cole against the post, they created little of note.

Fenerbahçe were emboldened by the sight of Cudicini limping off with a hamstring injury in the 26th minute, presenting Hilário with a first Champions League appearance of the season that the Portuguese seemed unprepared for when he stood flat-footed as Lugano’s header flashed wide of the near post just before half-time. Although clearly jittery, Hilário stood firm when it mattered, making good saves from Gökhan Gönül and Colin Kazim-Richards in close succession.

Given his unease under the high ball, however, Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, should give serious consideration to starting with Peter Crouch again if Hilário, the third choice, remains in goal in a fortnight. Chelsea will be hurt, too, by the absence of Michael Essien from the first leg after he was booked late on.

Given his supposed love for entertaining football, Abramovich may have wished he was at Anfield last night, although the Russian does have at least one reason to be pleased with himself. Since he bought the club, Chelsea have established themselves as the most consistent side in the Champions League, with four semi-final appearances in five years, but they must improve considerably to lift the trophy he craves above all others.