The semi final between Chelsea vs Liverpool continues to be the most previewed match in this blog. I had already written three posts – one with the opinion poll, another one on why Chelsea are the favourites for this tie. I’m planning to publish a regular match preview tomorrow afternoon. And now, Adam Mikhail has come up with his thoughts on this semi final. That’s understandable as this the semi finals of the champions league and it’s Chelsea and Liverpool. But wait a moment, who is this Adam Mikhail? Adam is a very young Chelsea fan who lives in the US. As a university student he does have lots of time (!) at his disposal for football – playing, watching and now writing. This is Adam’s first article for this blog. Read on!

Anfield and Stamford Bridge – our Blues are almost there, as they’ve almost been three of the past four seasons. And like past seasons, Liverpool will be looking for us to usher them to the UEFA Champions League Final. We should assume the Reds will fancy their chances against a team they’ve beaten in this same position in 2005 and 2007. So where should we find hope? Where we always find hope, our personal fortress, Stamford Bridge. But this certainly isn’t telling the whole story or even the beginning of this story, Anfield – 4/22.

I write “Anfield – 4/22” to look like a doomsday prophecy because the word should truly express how I feel about Anfield and the Liverpool Football Club, loathsome (the title I wrote also reminded me of Harry Potter; ‘Chelsea FC and the Battle of the Two Fortresses’). There are so many reasons for my feelings toward Liverpool, but it would be unfair for me not to put blame partially on our own club.

The clash of Chelsea and Liverpool over the years has proved to be one of the cagiest, most boring, and prudent. Naturally I’ve come to dislike these mediocre meetings, especially when we lose and especially at Anfield. I really do fear the stadium, unarguably a European fortress and a fortress designed to withstand Chelsea attack. This is the one ground where Jose Mourinho was never comfortable, the one ground we have never been comfortable in recent years. I can only imagine our European success had we not been drawn to two semi-finals against Liverpool — two finals, two championships perhaps? It’s time to end this terrible record we’ve been bestowed with.

The one thing that gives me confidence in this tie is certainly a first: Avram Grant. I’m a huge believer in superstition when it comes to football. Has anyone else grasped the thought that Grant’s miniscule difference in management might be able to achieve what Jose Mourinho couldn’t? That’s my hope but so is a 4-4-2, dare to dream eh? I expect our Anfield visit to be very similar to those in Greece and Turkey: we’ll sit back the entire game and hope for Deivid to come storming on the field and score and beautiful own goal.

Seriously though, it’s Chelsea vs. Liverpool at Anfield, an exciting game is almost as unlikely as Emile Heskey scoring in consecutive games. I mentioned to a friend who’s not experienced in football to watch our Liverpool game at the Bridge. It was a good thing he didn’t follow my advice or else it would have scarred his football image for years. I’m not expecting a 4-3 thriller or even a 2-1 thriller so anything but a loss won’t upset me too much. However, I do believe we have to score at Anfield. One at Anfield and one at Stamford Bridge and we’re off to Moscow. Two goals. Whichever team gets two goals between two games will win it.

Where are the goals going to come from? If I were a gambler I’d place a bet on Joey Cole. He’s scored a couple times at Anfield and a couple times at the Bridge; he’s also due a goal. I much expect our squad to look exactly as the one Avram Grant has favored with a fully fit squad: Cech, Essien, Carvalho, Terry, A. Cole, Makelele, Ballack, Lampard (?), Kalou, Drogba, J. Cole. Avram Grant has said that Drogba and Ballack are injured, but I don’t buy it. Just as I don’t buy it when Benitez says he doesn’t know if Steven Gerrard will play because of injury.

I could certainly be wrong about the lineup, maybe Grant has been waiting for this opportunity to utilize the legendary 4-4-2. If it came down to choosing two strikers, based on form I’d have to choose Drogba and Shevchenko. If we get the ball in front of the net we can’t squander the opportunity. We’re playing Liverpool, two or three chances wouldn’t be a bad mark. Anelka hasn’t been able to finish anything in his path. He’s forced the best from some keepers and has hit the crossbar three times. Throw Shevchenko in there and give him a run. He left us with a screamer against Villa and he deserves a Champions League opportunity. I’m also banking in that Ballack isn’t hurt. This would be a huge blow for a squad, he’s been the key for us in Champions League games this season and the thought of no Ballack or Lampard is frankly (no pun intended) frightening.

A fairly realistic and helpful result would be 1-1. A 1-1 draw will put us in the driver’s seat at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool have had little to no success at our home front but holding back against their desperation attempts could still be risky. I’ll give an early goal to Chelsea from Joey Cole and mid second-half response by Liverpool from a setpiece. Maybe Mr. Gerrard will even score for us again, who knows!