Jordan: We have confidence and belief
Jordan Henderson is adamant Liverpool head into Tuesday's Capital One Cup semi-final, first-leg showdown with Chelsea brimming with the confidence and belief they can take a step closer to Wembley.
The Reds welcome the Londoners to Anfield on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions, which was extended by Saturday's 2-0 victory at Aston Villa.
The same day, Chelsea strengthened their grip at the top of the Barclays Premier League table with a 5-0 win away to Swansea City, but Henderson insists he and his teammates are bullish about their chances of securing a positive outcome.
He told the Liverpool Echo: "It's a big game. Throughout the season Chelsea have been brilliant and they've got some great players.
"They are a fantastic team but so are we. There's a lot of talent in our squad and we've shown that with our recent performances.
"We're quite a young team with a lot of potential and confidence in the group is growing. I believe we can go and really put Chelsea under pressure.
"If we defend like we have been doing recently and we're really solid then we know we have the pace and the talent going forward to hurt them."
If Liverpool are to clinch an advantage to take to next week's second leg at Stamford Bridge, the Anfield atmosphere will undoubtedly have helped play a part.
"Playing at Anfield is always special and a cup semi-final against Chelsea will be a massive night," Henderson continued.
"The fans will be up for it and we'll prepare the best we can. I'm sure all the boys will be ready.
"It's important we get a lead in the first leg. Chelsea will put us under pressure like Villa did and we have to handle that in the same way.
"We have to keep doing what we've been doing and hopefully we can get the right result over the two legs."
Meanwhile, Henderson highlighted a dominant performance from Simon Mignolet as a key factor in Liverpool's Villa victory at the weekend.
The goalkeeper's display received fulsome praise from Brendan Rodgers in his post-match debriefings - and the manager's sentiments are echoed by the Reds' vice-captain.
"It was a top-class performance from Simon," said Henderson. "Some of the saves he made kept us in the game and from set-pieces he was dominant.
"He was probably our best player against Villa and he was brilliant the week before against Sunderland as well. Hopefully he will go from strength to strength.
"We knew Villa would make it difficult at times. They put us under quite a lot of pressure, especially in the second half.
"They pumped a lot of balls into the box but our goalkeeper and the three centre-halves dealt with it fantastically well.
"We were brilliant defensively. As a team we looked very solid and deserved the win."
Liverpool's triumph in the Midlands was achieved without Steven Gerrard, Dejan Lovren and Mario Balotelli due to injury or illness.
However, with Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana, Glen Johnson, Joe Allen and Jon Flanagan also still to return in the coming weeks, Henderson feels the Reds are primed to maintain their current run of form.
"We've still got a lot of big players to come back," he said. "Hopefully they can have a big impact over the coming months and we can kick on in the league and in the cups.
"There is a lot of confidence in the group and we have a lot of fantastic players here but we're not getting carried away.
"We have to keep playing like that and keep working as hard as we possibly can.
"Hopefully we can keep pushing further up the league."