It was a composed Avram Grant who spoke after the game at Anfield despite the drama of the dying seconds.

Moments earlier from the dugout he had witnessed John Arne Riise head into his own net in front of the Kop, ordering a quick re-write of many a match report. The third own-goal in our favour in April also radically altered what each side must achieve in the re-match next Wednesday in order to play in Moscow in May.

'We have deserved to score for a long time in the last minute as we have conceded a lot of goals this year in the last minutes,' the Chelsea manager smiled.

'A score of 1-1 away is always an advantage but it will again be a tough game. I hope at the end of the tie we will see this as an important goal.

'It is very hard to play at Anfield but I think it is not easy to play as an away team at Stamford Bridge either.'

Liverpool had taken the lead through Dirk Kuyt just as the two managers were mentally composing their half-time talks.

After an opening 40 minutes in which Chelsea had restricted Liverpool to just one clear cut chance - Petr Cech saving from Fernando Torres - Grant was not pleased with the manner in which handed the home side the advantage.

'It was a game again without many chances, they had a big chance in the first half, we maybe should have had a penalty, I don't know, I haven't seen it again. And in the second half the same, we had a chance for Malouda. It was a typical semi-final.

'The two goals were from mistakes. A big mistake from us when until then we had controlled the game.

'The second half we made some changes because we knew in an away game that is important. Kalou and Anelka came on and we changed the midfield a little bit to a different system - and the result was good for us.'

Cech was the one other player Grant mentioned by name as he analysed what had been a hard-working collective effort.

'He was unlucky with the goal because it went through his legs but he made some good saves. But it was Petr, we are used to it!'

Disappointed was a word Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez used on more than one occasion during his summing-up, in which he questioned the length of stoppage time played and a penalty appeal turned down for his side.

'It is difficult to explain and we are really disappointed but we cannot blame the referee for the own-goal.

'We had three clear chances and in these games it is not too easy to create chances so we needed to take them.

'Normally players when you concede a late goal are disappointed but we need to change our minds now and start thinking about the positive. We must go to Stamford Bridge and win so we must prepare for the next game. We will have our chances and unlike today we must take them.

'We know it will be difficult but we have enough confidence in ourselves.'

Benitez was reminded that Liverpool under his stewardship have yet to score at the Bridge.

'We will change the statistics now,' he responded.

Grant was once again asked to comment on the possibility of Roman Abramovich watching his club play Europe's biggest game back in his homeland.

The Chelsea manager wasn't about to jump the gun on that thought.

'I think for Roman, he would be happy if the final was in Mongolia, but we want to be in the final. A big club needs to be in the final of the Champions League.

'This result has not promised us the final - but it is a good step.'