Chelsea hold the aces going into the second leg of their Champions League semifinal at home to Liverpool on Wednesday.

Liverpool may have the tradition and five European Cups to their name but John Arne Riise's own goal deep into stoppage time in the first leg at Anfield last Tuesday handed Chelsea a priceless away goal and a 1-1 draw.

Chelsea start as favourites to reach the final for the first time and as long as Avram Grant's men stop Liverpool from finding the net. Winner will face Manchester United or Barcelona in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on May 21.

Liverpool and Chelsea, meeting in their third Champions League semifinal in four seasons, will be facing each other for the 20th time in all competitions in that period.

Chelsea have an excellent recent record over Liverpool, who have not scored in eight visits to Stamford Bridge since Rafa Benitez took charge at Anfield in 2004.

Chelsea are also likely to have Frank Lampard back in the squad after the England midfielder missed the United match following the death of his mother two days previously.

Tough opposition
Liverpool are a tougher proposition in Europe than in domestic matches and Benitez will take a rested squad to London, having made nine changes from the side that played Chelsea last week for Saturday's 2-2 Premier League draw at Birmingham City.

Fernando Torres, who has scored 30 goals in 43 matches since joining Liverpool at the start of the season, poses the biggest danger while Steven Gerrard will look to add to the 21 he has netted from midfield.

But as long as the hosts do not concede a goal Chelsea will be bound for Moscow, a thought to delight their billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

Probable teams:
Chelsea: 1-Petr Cech; 5-Michael Essien, 6-Ricardo Carvalho, 26-John Terry, 3-Ashley Cole; 4-Claude Makelele, 13-Michael Ballack, 8-Frank Lampard; 10-Joe Cole, 11-Didier Drogba, 21-Salomon Kalou
Liverpool: 25-Pepe Reina; 17-Alvaro Arbeloa, 23-Jamie Carragher, 37-Martin Skrtel, 6-John Arne Riise; 18-Dirk Kuyt, 20-Javier Mascherano, 14-Xabi Alonso, 8-Steven Gerrard, 19-Ryan Babel; 9-Fernando Torres.