Chelsea are once again favourites to beat the Reds when the two meet at Anfield tomorrow but the champions of Europe are used to being shown little respect for their achievements.

And Benitez proved he is no novice in the art of mind games against a club with the arrogant belief they are superior to every team.

The Liverpool boss sowed the seeds of doubt on the eve of the meeting with Jose Mourinho’s Premier League champions by quietly reminding them of what happened last season in that memorable Champions League semi-final second leg.

“It was important for us that we beat them last season. But importantly they now know too that we can beat them and that gives us confidence and will be in their minds,” he said.

“They know we are a good team and are dangerous, particularly at Anfield where the crowd is another player for us.

“I hope the fact that we walk out as European champions in front of our own fans will affect Chelsea, and I like to hear our fans behind us in such games.

Last season Liverpool’s hordes created an astonishing atmosphere at Anfield and carried their team to the final on a wave of emotion and defiance.

Benitez added: “I do not know whether they (Chelsea) are putting more pressure on themselves by talking of revenge but you can hear these words from them.

“But the most important thing for us is to prepare for the game and not to talk a lot about other things like this.

“We will prepare well against a good team and to concentrate for 90 minutes. Chelsea do have weaknesses, for sure, every team has. They are beatable and we have an idea of how to win.

“I do not care when people say Chelsea are favourites even though we are champions. All I will do is prepare my team the best way we can, to have confidence and to know we can beat them.”

Benitez continues to be without Spain striker Fernando Morientes, who is out with a hamstring problem, while midfielder Mohamed Sissoko is suffering from a groin problem.

Liverpool lost twice in the league to Chelsea and once in the Carling Cup final last season before drawing the first leg of the European semi-final at Stamford Bridge and winning the return by a controversial Luis Garcia goal, which the Blues argued did not cross the line.

The gap in the league may have been 37 points between the clubs but the difference in the meetings between the sides was slim on all occasions and Benitez drew confidence from that.

“Big games like this come down to the details. If you have good teams, in one game the small details are the difference,” he said.

“Remember the Carling Cup final, we were winning 10 minutes from the end and the own goal was the difference. I expect it is going to be that tight.

“We played well against Chelsea in the Premiership at Anfield and were unlucky to lose. We beat them in the Champions League here and I think we can do the same.

“Our game plan will be very similar to usual, their style of play is also similar so although we have to analyse things I do not expect much of a difference in the game from last season.

“It is a new season, with new players and a different moment in time. We have a better team but so also do they, and at the moment they are winning all their games.”