Uefa Champions League Semi-finals:The talk is already of revenge with Jose Mourinho still disputing Luis Garcia's "ghost goal" which settled the last all-English Champions League semi-final two years ago.

Yet when Chelsea and Liverpool collide in the last four of the European Cup later this month one among the Merseysiders' ranks will be seeking redemption.

Xabi Alonso watched the second leg encounter at Anfield in 2005 from the stands, the Basque having been suspended after receiving a booking following a vague challenge on Eidur Gudjohnsen in the first tie at Stamford Bridge, with visiting players infuriated by the striker's perceived theatrical reaction.

Alonso was swept up in the emotion of the occasion from the back of the directors' box with the arena writhing an hour before kick-off and the Kop generating a deafening din throughout.

"We all felt the power of the Anfield crowd two years ago," he said. "We know how to beat Chelsea and, although we will show them respect, we will have the same belief as we had two years ago that we can win this tie."

There was a sense of inevitability that Liverpool and Chelsea would be thrust together for the 14th and 15th time in three seasons under Rafael Benitez and Jose Mourinho, with neither PSV Eindhoven nor Valencia able to block the English clubs' passage into the last four. While the Premiership champions impressed with a wonderful late victory at the Mestalla, Liverpool's dismissal of the Dutch was straightforward in comparison.

It was clear in that second leg the focus had turned to Chelsea in the semi-finals ahead. Alonso, free from disciplinary shackles, will be determined to make his mark in west London on April 25th and the return a week later.

Liverpool will take heart in their ability to unsettle the Premiership champions in knock-out competitions. Since losing the Carling Cup final to Chelsea in 2005 they have beaten them in the Champions League and the FA Cup semi-final as well as in this season's Community Shield.

All those clashes have been played to an undercurrent of enmity between the managers, their relationship having been damaged by inflammatory comments made by each in the build-up to the various games.

Mourinho has already stated this week that Liverpool will benefit from having only the Champions League upon which to concentrate in the weeks ahead. Benitez retorted on Wednesday by reminding the Portuguese how much money he has spent assembling a squad capable of challenging on up to four fronts.

The Spaniard was more diplomatic yesterday, suggesting any of the semi-finalists could prevail in Greece, though he was quick to insist his own side had not been troubled by the blistering displays from Manchester United and Chelsea this week.

"What I saw from United didn't surprise me," he said. "We were certainly not intimidated by the football we saw from United - we have always known they have great character - but it is difficult to say who is favourite. Milan are a really good team but the same applies to United and Chelsea."

Mourinho, too, appears to have launched a charm offensive with the Spanish press after granting a four-page interview with the Madrid-based sports daily Marca, which he used to bemoan Chelsea's predicament as a club "not at peace".

It is known that Mourinho is highly regarded at Real Madrid and the interview's timing is interesting given the uncertainty over his position at Chelsea. He reiterated the remarks he made to Spanish reporters earlier in the week in which he stated he would like to coach a club in Europe if he cannot remain at Stamford Bridge beyond this season.

He also launched a thinly veiled attack on Roman Abramovich's failure to back him, likening the lack of stability at Stamford Bridge to the institutional crisis that has seen Real Madrid go three seasons without a trophy.

The interview functioned primarily as a vindication of his achievements in England, Mourinho insisting he wants to continue at Chelsea but entertaining the possibility of departure.

Mourinho insisted: "I have a contract until 2010 and I want to continue at Chelsea. It would be an honour to coach Madrid but it is not something I want to think about now. If my name is linked to Madrid it's not because I have done anything to make that happen.

"Chelsea is a club I love, one where I want to continue."

• Guardian Service