Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes his side are better than UEFA Champions League rivals Chelsea.

Gerrard is adamant that Liverpool have dominated Chelsea on the three occasions they have faced them this season and is confident the Reds can reinforce that belief in Wednesday's European semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Last week's first-leg at Anfield ended in a 1-1 draw to hand Chelsea a narrow away goals edge but Gerrard remains optimistic ahead of the return meeting.

"We really feel that we are as good as Chelsea, if not better than them" Gerrard said in the Sunday Mirror.

"We have certainly been the better team when we have played them this season.

"We were the better team at Anfield and again in the Champions League only for both games to end in draws.

"Now we have got to back up a good performance with the right result."

An infamous injury-time own goal from John Arne Riise earned Chelsea a draw in the first leg and Gerrard admits it was a bitter blow.

"We were gutted at the end of the first game because we were on top for most of the time and Chelsea scored their equaliser without really creating anything," Gerrard added.

"It was a real killer for us, but these things happen in football and it's now all about how we react and how we recover."