By Sanu Akingbola

The Blues were victorious at Anfield earlier in the season, but the former Swansea boss believes his side are in a better place now as they chase a place
in the League Cup final Brendan Rodgers has warned Chelsea that they will face a
different Liverpool in Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final first leg than the one they beat earlier in the season.

The Reds welcome Jose Mourinho’s Premier League leaders to Anfield for the second time this season, with Chelsea
having emerged 2-1 winners in the top flight clash in November.

That fixture was part of a run of four straight defeats for a Liverpool side who struggled in the early stages of the season after going so close to winning
the title last term.

Manager Rodgers has seen his side improve vastly recently, though, and they head into Tuesday’s match unbeaten in their last eight games in all
competitions.

While acknowledging the strength of Chelsea’s squad, Rodgers is confident of
progressing over the two-legged tie and insists his target for this season remains winning a trophy and qualifying for the
Champions League.

“We know if you want to win the
competition you have to beat the
best teams,” Rodgers told
reporters. “We are developing
and improving as season goes
on and we are full of confidence.

“When we last played them, we
weren’t in a good moment but
we’re developing, improving and
confidence is very high.
“Chelsea are in a really strong
position. They have a very
experienced squad of players
who are playing well. They are
five points clear [in the Premier
League] but there is still a long
way to go.

“Our objective is still to win a
trophy and qualify for the
Champions League. A trophy
would help build for the future.

Chelsea have shown that once
you win a trophy you can go on
and sustain it. But the first trophy
is always the hardest.”

Rodgers, a former youth and
reserve team manager at
Chelsea, insists that all will not be
lost even if Liverpool fail to win.