As some of you may know, I’m also the editor of the Vital Networks Liverpool site and as part of the build up to Wednesday’s game I exchanged a few questions and answers with the editor of the, some would say Liverpool obsessed, Vital Chelsea site . There’s plenty to get your teeth into, so I thought you guys might be interested might be interested in both sets of questions and answers below.

Firstly, my answers to his questions.

1. Would you have preferred one of the other two clubs, Manchester United or AC Milan, in the draw?

No. I think we got the toughest draw in the last 16 when we got Barcelona but once we got past that and knew which teams were left in the competition, then given a choice I think we would have chosen to face PSV and the draw kindly gave them to us. Looking at the other three teams in the semi’s, I think its fair to say that the draw has been kind to us again, as if we had been given a choice I think we would have chosen to play Chelsea rather then one of the other two at this stage. I say this because in our four previous Champions League meetings over the last two seasons, you haven’t managed a single goal against us and in our previous 4 meetings in all competitions, we’ve won three. As we all know, the mancs are a jammy shower of bastards and you just never know what your going to get from AC Milan, so although it will be a tough game, I’m happiest about us facing Chelsea.

2. Don’t you just get the feeling that there will come a time soon when you will lose to Chelsea in a cup competition?

Well, of course you did beat us in the Worthington Cup final a couple of seasons back, but given our record against you in cup competitions, I think we’ve every reason to feel confident.

3. Do you agree with Stevie Gerrard’s opinion that a Premiership win would eclipse a Champions League win?

Yes, definately. I don’t think there’s any secret about our desire to win the Premiership and we’ll hopefully put in a decent challenge for it next season but the Champions League is the richest tournament in the game and a wonderful consolation prize.

4. Your opinion on the takeover and what it’ll mean for your club? (Will you be the new Chelsea )

I’m delighted with the takeover. Despite all of our glory years, we were always weak on the business side of things and didn’t even have a corporate box at Anfield until 1992! Although Rafa has brought us great success since his arrival, he has had a relatively limited budget to work with in comparison to the other big teams in the Premiership and beyond. This was mainly due to the clubs debts and the need to fund a new stadium etc. The deal with our new owners means our club debts are pretty much wiped out, the building of our new stadium will finally get underway and Rafa will have a larger transfer budget, so of course I’m happy about it. Our new owners Gillett and Hicks have a very good track record in sports and really seem to have there heads screwed on, in a business sense so it looks like the future is bright. No, we will not be the new Chelsea. We are not very far away at the moment as it is and we don’t need to splash around the obscene amounts of money that you guys do. We just need a couple of real top quality players to add to what we’ve already got and we’ll be fine.

5. Are you pleased to be at home for the second leg?

Yes, I’m very pleased we have the second, and deciding, leg at Anfield. The atmosphere in the stadium will be fantastic, I don’t know if this will have an effect on your players but it certainly has an effect on ours and we will be doing our very best to drive them on, so bring your ear plugs!

6. Where do you see any danger coming from?

Obviously, Drogba is a danger. Now that he’s decided to stay on his feet, he can’t seem to stop scoring at the moment and Joe Cole is also a bit of a bogey player for us. I also hope we have a strong referee who will be able to stand up to some of your more “theatrical” players.

7. The Vital Network – Do you feel the banter between our two sites sometimes verges on the unacceptable?

The banter between our two sites can be a little over the top at times, but I’d rather see it on the messageboards then on the terraces. Despite the intense rivalry between the teams, I’ve never seen any trouble at any of the games. So I’m happy for people to blow off as much steam as they like on the sites, as long as it doesn’t go any further.

And now, his answers to my questions.

1. Yet another semi final between our sides, would you have preferred to meet us in the final?

Difficult! In a way your questions implies it will be Chelsea in the final! We’re not fussed who we face. If you’re going to win the Champions League you have to take on all those sides you’re presented with as opposition. In all honesty, it could be a case of – the better the devil you know – besides, we’re about due for a win in a semi-final against you lot.

2. Unlike many of your other fans, I know you are a lifelong supporter of the Blues, so which former Chelsea players do you think would have got into the current side?

At the risk of being accused of repeating myself; that’s a very difficult question. Football has changed but I’d like to think several of the leading Chelsea players from years gone by would have been professional enough to adapt. In order to simplify things I’ll just pick a couple from each area of the team. In goal, Peter Bonetti would have given Petr Cech a run for his money whilst in defence I’m not sure the tackling talents of the likes of Ron Harris would have been appreciated by modern referees. In the attacking areas I’d hazard a guess that Jimmy Greaves, Kerry Dixon, Peter Osgood, Pat Nevin and Charlie Cooke may well have made an impact. Strangely enough, our current problem area of right back could well be filled by Albert Ferrer who was an unsung hero in the late nineties. However, whilst putting forward the names of these ex-professionals I’d be reluctant to suggest they could oust any of the current team but I wouldn’t complain if they were on the bench ready to be called upon in an emergency. Although the more you think about it the more other names crop up, Ray Wilkins, Eddie McCreadie, the list could go on and on. All in all a pretty unfair question I’d suggest.

3. Does it bother you to have so many divers and cheats in your team?

Oooh! They tell me they studied the Steven Gerrard technique for hours on end!

4. How do you feel about Jose Mourinho’s off the field antics?

The guy is an absolute legend, besides not sure by what you mean about his off the field antics. Has he been up to something we’re not party to? Or do you simply mean his mind games? If it is the latter, I’d just like to say that in the three years he’s been there he’s picked up every trick that Sir Alex Ferguson ever used and has turned the heat up on several of his rivals. There is a reason for this strategy; it takes the heat off of the players. Go on, admit it, the Premiership would be a poorer place for his absence.

5. What’s going on between Jose and Roman, will he still be there next season?

I’d say yes! There is no doubt there has been a fall-out and I hazard a guess we’ll never know the real reason why. However, it’d be madness to get rid of him when he’s done so much in the three years he’s been with us. Unfortunately, Chelsea have a history of shooting themselves in the foot, just look back a few years to the eras of Ruud Gullit and Luca Vialli!

6. Given the recent break down in the clubs contract talks with John Terry, are you disappointed that your captain has turned out to be just another greedy footballer?

Don’t believe all you read! As Terry has said, contract talks always break down. In fact you should probably need to know that one of the clauses he wanted inserted was that if it all went pear-shaped he’d be prepared to have his contract ripped up and his salary re-negotiated. I think football has changed (for the worse), players are now akin to rock star status and the money is being paid accordingly. I’d even suggest that when your American owners get around to improving Liverpool, you’ll have several others on £100k a week. If you want to compete at the top end of the scale you need to pay accordingly. Sadly, it’s resulting in the big four becoming more isolated from the rest of the Premiership. What price a European Super League inside the next decade? As a G14 member, has that not what you’ve been after for years, a chance to feather your own nest?

7. Do you feel your club is treated fairly by the media?

Not particularly! Unfortunately, it’s a British trait to knock those who are on top of the pedestal. If it wasn’t us it would be somebody else. What annoys me is when lazy journalists trot out lame articles that have no truth in them simply to fill a few column inches. Obviously, the tabloids are the worse culprits. However, in recent weeks I’ve been surprised to see those same tabloids grudgingly offering us some praise for our sheer resilience this season.

8. Which three Liverpool players would you prefer not to see in our starting eleven in the semi final?

You are not going to catch me out with that one. We want to face your strongest team, we want to beat your strongest team and not give you the chance to harp on about fielding a weakened side J However, if you were to push me, just take out Gerrard, Alonso and Carragher!

9. If you could only choose one, which would you prefer to win, The Premiership or Champions League?

Seeing as we’ve won the Premiership twice (back-to-back by the way), I’d edge towards the Champions League possibly beating Manchester United a few days after we’ve also beaten them in the FA Cup but saying that it wouldn’t half be sweet to overhaul Manchester United in the Premiership after being so far behind. The look on Fergie’s face would be an absolute picture.

10. How devastated will you be when we beat you, yet again?

Oh! Come on! Devastated! It’s only a game or didn’t a legend in your part of the world sum it up perfectly – “It’s not a matter of life or death, it’s far more important than that.” – I guess life would go on but I can’t see it happening!