Rafa relishing Carlo showdown

Rafael Benitez has spoken of his admiration for Carlo Ancelotti as he prepares to go head-to head with the new Chelsea boss for the first time since the Champions League final in 2007.

The Reds boss is used to facing the Italian on the big occasion after he led AC Milan in Istanbul and Athens, and admits he would love to lock horns with Ancelotti in another showpiece occasion this season.
 
"It will be interesting because he is a great manager," Benitez told his pre-match press conference. "We have played in finals, so it will good to see him and hopefully we will meet in another final.
 
"He knows how to manage a top side, he has experience at AC Milan. He is also doing a good job here and has good players too.
 
"Chelsea haven't changed too much. They have changed the shape of the team a bit, but the style is still similar. Their fans are happy because when you win games everyone is happier."
 
He added: "I have a lot of respect for Ancelotti. He is a nice man who wants to win. We have respect for each other."
 
Last season Liverpool ended Chelsea's long-lasting home record with a 1-0 victory before completing an impressive league double over the Londoners at Anfield.
 
Benitez acknowledges that three points could prove significant in the title race but insists there is still a long way to go.
 
"It is always important when you play a top side, but you never know," he said. "It is important to do the right things and if you win it is fantastic. But if not, then there is still a long way to go and you must keep going.
 
"Both teams will be desperate to win and hopefully it will be a good game. We go there with the idea we can win. We beat them twice last year, but we know Stamford Bridge is a difficult place to go. Both teams will try to win.
 
"If we can do that it will be two defeats in a row for them, but my idea is still same. It will be a long race."
 
The clash at Stamford Bridge will see two of the most in-form strikers in Europe come up against each other.
 
Asked who he thought was the better of the two, Benitez said: "Ancelotti will be really pleased with Drogba and I am pleased with Torres.
 
"It is really difficult to talk about one being better. They have pace, both are strong and both can change a game. They have similar qualities but Drogba is physically stronger whereas Fernando has more pace."
 
The Reds saw a six-match winning run come to an end in midweek when they suffered a 2-0 reversal against Fiorentina.
 
But Benitez is confident they will produce a better performance in the Capital.
 
"We have to improve on everything," he said. "In the second half (in Florence) we tried to play more quickly with a high tempo.
 
"We have experience at Stamford Bridge. We won there last year - it's a different manager, but the same players more or less."