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Parry: Liverpool Capable Of Overcoming Chelsea
Chief executive Rick Parry has claimed that Liverpool have enough in their locker to overcome Chelsea in the quarter-final of the Champions League.
Mar 20, 2009 7:22:10 AM
For the fifth successive season Liverpool and Chelsea have been paired together in the Champions League and, despite their recent familiarity with each other in continental competition, chief executive Rick Parry is adamant that it is current form that will play its part, not historical records.
Parry went on to confirm that he believes the Merseyside outfit will be the club who prevail, providing they maintain their impressive winning ways of late, together with ensuring they have a fully fit squad for both legs.
"It's that time of the year again for our regular get-together," Parry mooted on Sky Sports following the Champions League draw in Nyon, Switzerland. "It doesn't matter to us [who is drawn], you have to play the best teams at some point.
"We know we have to do over the two legs and we know what we are capable of doing," he added. "The second leg at Stamford Bridge makes no difference to us, it's not about historical form, it's about present form. If we can keep everyone fit then we will be optimistic."
Regarding Liverpool's UEFA request that their fixture will not coincide with their commemorations for the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough stadium disaster - something that European's governing body for football is reported to be acquiescing to - Parry said, "We're still waiting for official confirmation.
"It's important... we can not play on the Hillsborough anniversary," he stressed. "Of course it can be done [changing the date for the European fixture], it is relatively easy to do it. There is nothing more important for Liverpool than this."
On Benitez's new five-year contract, he continued, "It's good to see Rafa Benitez put pen to paper and I wish him all the best."
Liverpool host Aston Villa on Sunday, and Parry insists that the impressive victory over Manchester United is now a thing of the past, as the team - and club as a whole - focus on the upcoming game.
"The 4-1 Manchester United win is history, as we now have a game to prepare for at the weekend."
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
Parry went on to confirm that he believes the Merseyside outfit will be the club who prevail, providing they maintain their impressive winning ways of late, together with ensuring they have a fully fit squad for both legs.
"It's that time of the year again for our regular get-together," Parry mooted on Sky Sports following the Champions League draw in Nyon, Switzerland. "It doesn't matter to us [who is drawn], you have to play the best teams at some point.
"We know we have to do over the two legs and we know what we are capable of doing," he added. "The second leg at Stamford Bridge makes no difference to us, it's not about historical form, it's about present form. If we can keep everyone fit then we will be optimistic."
Regarding Liverpool's UEFA request that their fixture will not coincide with their commemorations for the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough stadium disaster - something that European's governing body for football is reported to be acquiescing to - Parry said, "We're still waiting for official confirmation.
"It's important... we can not play on the Hillsborough anniversary," he stressed. "Of course it can be done [changing the date for the European fixture], it is relatively easy to do it. There is nothing more important for Liverpool than this."
On Benitez's new five-year contract, he continued, "It's good to see Rafa Benitez put pen to paper and I wish him all the best."
Liverpool host Aston Villa on Sunday, and Parry insists that the impressive victory over Manchester United is now a thing of the past, as the team - and club as a whole - focus on the upcoming game.
"The 4-1 Manchester United win is history, as we now have a game to prepare for at the weekend."
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
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