Lucas: Gerrard's text that still inspires me
Lucas Leiva was sat on the team bus as it snaked its way towards Wembley in February 2012 when his phone buzzed with a special message of support from Steven Gerrard.
Kenny Dalglish and his players were looking forward to the club's first outing at the national stadium for 16 years, but Lucas was facing up to the prospect of watching the Carling Cup final against Cardiff City from the sidelines.
The midfielder had been ruled out since the preceding November after he sustained a serious knee injury in the quarter-finals of the tournament, stretchered from the field as Liverpool downed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
As the team coach approached Wembley for the 2012 showpiece, Gerrard sent his teammate a simple text aimed at lifting the spirits - and Lucas insists the words have stuck with him to this day.
"I remember when we were on our way to the stadium I was a little bit down because I wanted to be on the pitch," recalled the midfielder. "I remember Stevie sending me a text which said, 'Don't worry, we will get here again'."
Liverpool were back at Wembley within the space of two months as Dalglish steered the team to the FA Cup semis for a meeting with Everton and then beyond the Blues to the final itself, where they were beaten by Chelsea.
Lucas, however, played no part in either of those encounters as the injury kept him out of action - and so the message he received from Gerrard prior to the win over Cardiff still bears a special resonance for the 28-year-old.
"It is something that I always remember and hopefully we will make that come true," he said. "That would be special. I have never played at Wembley and it is something that I would like to do and in a final would be brilliant."
Standing in the way of Lucas and co tonight at Stamford Bridge will be a Chelsea side that was thoroughly outplayed at Anfield in the first leg of the semi-final, but one which sits top of the Barclays Premier League table.
Jose Mourinho's men were eliminated from the FA Cup at the weekend as Bradford City staged a truly remarkable comeback away from home to stun them 4-2 - and Lucas believes the shock result means Chelsea will need to find a reaction tonight.
"There is a pressure on them because they have just gone out of the FA Cup," he added. "They conceded four goals at home for the first time in I don't know how many years and they will be looking to get to the final to help their fans forget what happened.
"There is no doubt it is going to be a difficult game. They will probably be favourites at home and, although they've now had a defeat there, their record at Stamford Bridge is unbelievable.
"The manager spoke to us before the first game and said it is always the first trophy that helps you start something. He is looking for that first medal and first trophy to put a mark on the group.
"Of course we were fantastic in the Premier League last season but at the end we didn't win. This group I think deserves something good and a medal to show how hard it works, and for the fans as well as they've been incredible for the team."