After last night's 1-1 draw at Anfield, he told liverpoolfc.tv: "Obviously we're disappointed with the late goal but it's done. We've got to pick ourselves up. We've got to get a result at the weekend then give it everything we can at Stamford Bridge. We know this tie is not over.

"It's my job as captain to pick the boys up and make sure we're ready for next week.

"Let people say Chelsea are favourites, let them. We've got to block that out and do what we've got to do. We are confident we can beat Chelsea on their patch.

"We've created the better chances against them here. I don't think Pepe had anything to do besides pick the ball out late doors. Petr Cech has had to pull off two or three great saves. To be honest, we'd have been disappointed if this game had ended 1-0 when it could have been 2-0."

Dirk Kuyt has now scored in every round of this season's Champions League - a remarkable stat considering the stick dished out to the Dutchman in some sections of the press earlier in the season.

The skipper added: "I haven't heard him get any stick. We don't listen to any of that (the media). Dirk has been fantastic for us, he's worked his socks off for us again tonight and deserved his goal. He is well respected in the dressing room."