Leading lights close in on big prize

By Trevor Haylett

The UEFA Champions League semi-final lineup features a side who have already celebrated a title success in their own country, a second who are on the brink of receiving their crown and a third who are confident the championship is heading their way.

Liverpool struggling
The odd men out are Liverpool FC who are struggling to qualify for next season's Champions League after seeing their deficit behind fourth-placed Everton FC in the Premiership table widen to four points last weekend. No worries on that score for PSV Eindhoven who clinched the Eredivisie title on Saturday and travel to face AC Milan in their semi-final first leg tonight with confidence high.

Sole success
Milan, ahead in the Serie A standings on goal difference from Juventus FC, have won this trophy on six occasions while PSV have just one triumphant year - 1988 - to look back on. Liverpool are four-times winners but, like the Dutch side, are bidding to improve on a number of barren years in the competition. This is the furthest Liverpool have travelled since it became the Champions League.

Fourth attempt
The Merseysiders visit their Premiership rivals Chelsea in Wednesday's second semi-final hoping to make it fourth time lucky. On the three previous occasions they have met this season, José Mourinho's side have come out on top.

AC Milan (ITA)
Qualified as: Italian champions
Serie A status: First (P33 W22 D7 L4)
Quarter-finals: Beat FC Internazionale Milano 5-0 on aggregate
Best performance: Winners (1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003)
2003/04 Champions League: Quarter-finals (lost 5-4 on aggregate to RC Deportivo La Coruña)

This semi-final brings together two sides with impressive defensive records (PSV 13 goals conceded in 30 league games, Milan 20 goals in 33) but the home team have concerns in that area ahead of tonight's opener. With key man Alessandro Nesta already ruled out through suspension, the last thing Milan wanted was to have his centre-back partner Jaap Stam pull up with a hamstring strain 31 minutes into the 3-0 win over Parma FC on Saturday. However, the Dutchman has been passed fit and is relishing facing his former side. Coach Carlo Ancelotti also saw striker Filippo Inzaghi play the final eleven minutes after a long-lay and he will start on the bench at the San Siro.

PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Qualified as: Dutch runners-up
Eredivisie status: Champions (P30 W25 D4 L1)
Quarter-finals: Beat Olympique Lyonnais 4-2 on penalties after 2-2 aggregate draw
Best performance: Winners (1988)
2003/04 Champions League: Group stage

PSV coach Guus Hiddink is considering employing fast wingers Jefferson Farfán and Ji-Sung Park up front in a bid to unhinge the Milan defence. It is in response to an ankle injury which rules out Brazilian striker Robert and the fact that Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has only just returned from a hamstring injury. In any case, Hiddink believes this might not be an occasion when Vennegoor of Hesselink's physical attributes are advantageous. "Milan have big, strong men in the defensive line and there's no point putting a strong target man against them," he said. Robert was injured after 15 minutes of the game with SBV Vitesse last weekend, a 3-0 win clinching PSV's fourth Eredivisie title in six years. Defensively PSV are in good shape, having not conceded a goal in eight league outings.

Chelsea FC (ENG)
Qualified as: Second place in England
Premiership status: First (P34 W26 D7 L1)
Quarter-finals: Beat FC Bayern München 6-5 on aggregate
Best performance: Semi-finals (2004)
2003/04 Champions League: Semi-finals (lost 5-3 on aggregate to AS Monaco FC)

After overcoming Bayern in the quarter-finals while manager José Mourinho was serving a two-match touchline ban, why should Chelsea worry now they have their mentor back in place in the dug-out? Confidence is rocketing as they prepare to add the Premiership crown to the English League Cup and the individual awards are beginning to pile up at Stamford Bridge with captain John Terry becoming the first defender for 12 years to be named the English Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year. The return of winger Arjen Robben is an additional boost - he played the entire second half in the 3-1 win over Fulham FC after damaging an ankle playing for the Netherlands. "He is a very important option as he is a special player," said Mourinho.

Liverpool FC (ENG)
Qualified as: Fourth place in England
Premiership status: Fifth (P35 W16 D6 L13)
Quarter-finals: Beat Juventus 2-1 on aggregate
Best performance: Winners (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984)
2003/04 Champions League: Did not qualify

Manager Rafael Benítez will not worry unduly that Saturday's 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace FC is a bad omen before the semi-final first leg. Before four of their previous six outings in the Champions League, Liverpool have come off worst in a Premiership fixture and there were mitigating circumstances this time in the number of changes Benítez chose to make. It is a concern that Milan Baroš was forced to leave the field in the first half with a knee injury because Fernando Morientes is ineligible and Djibril Cissé has only just returned following a long absence. However, the Czech is in the squad along with fellow forward Harry Kewell.