Benitez's side set up a semifinal meeting of the increasingly bitter rivals by completing a 4-0 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven in the last eight.

Liverpool had done the hard work in the Netherlands a week ago and Peter Crouch's second half goal, moments after PSV's Dirk Marcellis was sent off, clinched a low-key 1-0 victory in Wednesday's second leg at Anfield.

But Benitez has already turned his attention to Chelsea manager Mourinho, who stands between him and a second Champions League final in three seasons. The feud between two bosses who are anything but close friends will hardly have been helped by Benitez's surprisingly personal comments about Mourinho.

The Portuguese coach has riled Benitez on several occasions as their teams have fought it out in the games's grandest occasions.

Mourinho took first blood when Chelsea won 3-2 in the 2005 League Cup final, but Benitez exacted revenge a few months later as Luis Garcia's controversial goal enabled the Reds to eliminate Chelsea from the Champions League at the semifinal stage. Garcia's goal at Anfield still rankles with Mourinho, who claims the ball never crossed the line. Liverpool followed that success by dumping Chelsea out of the FA Cup semifinals last season and Benitez believes those results are at the root of the animosity.

"We were good friends until we start beating them. Then that changed his mind," Benitez said of his Chelsea counterpart. "But it is the same with all the managers of the top sides.

"He has very good relationships with the managers of teams that normally he beats. When he starts fighting with managers of top sides it is normal."

Liverpool have the advantage of playing the return at Anfield on May 1 after the first leg in London on April 25.

But familiarity has bred contempt between these contrasting managers and Benitez was happy to put pressure on Mourinho by insisting Chelsea's huge transfer investment means they must win several trophies or else the campaign will be a failure.

"We know Chelsea are a good team. In the last five years they have spent big money on a lot of players and they have a very good squad," Benitez said.

"If you want to be in the finals you must have a very good squad and they have a very good squad. I think that is the reason they must be there and compete for every competition.

"We know Chelsea and they know us, but you must always have confidence as a manager and a Liverpool team should always be confident.

"We know it is a difficult team to play against. The only thing is we will play the second leg at Anfield and if you can do something at Stamford Bridge then maybe you have an advantage.

"But you saw against Valencia they are very dangerous playing counter-attacking football. I think it will be difficult for both of us."

Liverpool were in cruise control for long periods against a PSV side who showed little belief that they could turn the tie around.

Italian referee Roberto Rosetti ended their slender hopes after 64 minutes when he showed Marcellis a red card for a lunge at Boudewijn Zenden that was rash but hardly a serious danger.

Liverpool went for the kill straight away and got their reward in the 68th minute.

Crouch looked to have wasted the chance when he failed to connect cleanly with John Arne Riise's left-wing cross. But Robbie Fowler turned the ball back into the six yard box for Crouch to shoot past Gomes for his fifth goal in four games.

Liverpool, Chelsea and United have all made it through and it is only the third time a single country has had three clubs in the last four.