Jon ready to Riise to the challenge

April 29, 2008 · By Purch · Jump to comments

Jon Arne Riise is hoping to put his nightmare of last week behind him and has told liverpoolfc.tv he is in the right frame of mind for the crucial semi-final. His devastating own goal which was virtually the final touch of the first leg means Chelsea hold the upper advantage.

Riise however has scored goals against Chelsea in major games. In 2005 he put Liverpool ahead just seconds into the League Cup Final. That game was also a scene of Chelsea getting an equaliser to make it 1-1 via an own goal. Skipper Steven Gerrard forcing the game to extra time in which Dudek was injured as Chelsea won 3-2.

Riise also scored 14 months later in a game which Liverpool won 2-1 in the Fa Cup semi final. Riise has failed to score this season but says that confidence is high. He told Liverpoolfc.tv

“It’s a big game and it’s going to be a cracking night so hopefully we can come up winners in the end. We have to respect Chelsea for the team they are. They beat Manchester United on Saturday and haven’t lost at home for God knows how many games so I think we have to respect that beforehand – but records are there to be broken. And we will go there and try to win because we have to and it’s for a place in the final of the Champions League. So the whole team has a lot of confidence and we know we can have a go and score. It’s going to be tough game but these games are why we play football.”

Riise’s failure to find the right goal this year has led to many people getting annoyed and championing for Aurelio to play and even when Aurelio is unfit, young Emiliano Insua has been wanted by fans. Riise has been linked with an exit in the summer with his destination likely to be Newcastle where their fans would like to see him.