Benitez's Liverpool have been thrown into another massive showdown with the Blues in the semi-finals of the Champions League after the Anfield men completed a routine 4-0 aggregate victory over PSV Eindhoven in this morning's last-eight clash.

Chelsea set up a possible showdown with Liverpool 24 hours earlier by winning 2-1 away to Valencia, Benitez's former club.

Mourinho immediately claimed that Liverpool will have it easy because they are only chasing one trophy at this stage of the season.

But Benitez was quick to counter, insisting Chelsea would not swap places with his side.

He said: "That is what they want. They must be there and they must compete for every competition, that is their aim."

And Benitez was equally prepared to explain the frosty relationship he now has with Mourinho, which has involved a spate of refusing to shake hands after matches between the clubs this term.

Benitez said: "We were good friends until we started winning, then he started changing his mind.

"It is the same with all the managers of the top sides. He has very good relationships with managers of teams that normally he beats.

"Then he started fighting with the managers of the top sides. He has already started it with us, yesterday!"

But Benitez was predictably confident Liverpool can repeat the semi-final success they achieved over Chelsea two seasons ago before winning the trophy in dramatic fashion in Istanbul against AC Milan.

A repeat of that final is now possible, with the Italians reaching the last four by ousting Bayern Munich and setting up a clash with Manchester United.

Benitez said: "Always as a manager, you must be confident your team can win, and any Liverpool team will always be confident.

"But we know Chelsea are a very good team. In the last five years, they have spent big money on players and they have a very good squad.

"They may not accept what happened here two years ago, but they cannot change things now.

"They are very difficult team to play against. What we will do now is concentrate on the Premier League and then we will concentrate on Chelsea.

"But they will be tough. They have spent money for five years, they are in other semi-finals and chasing trophies, that is what they want and have prepared for.

"Yes, we only have one trophy to go for, but they would not want to change what they are doing now."

Benitez was also proud of the fact that three English sides are now in the Champions League last four.

He said: "It is really important for the Premier League to show Europe how strong we are, it is the best league in Europe at this moment."

"The three teams at the top are in the Champions League semi-finals."

PSV boss Ronald Koeman also accepted the dominance of English football.

He said: "It has been a great season for English clubs, Chelsea, Manchester United and now Liverpool in the semi-finals.

"This demonstrates how strong their league is. But they have the money, the best players and the best coaches."

On his own club's performance in a 1-0 defeat, following the 3-0 mauling they suffered in the first-leg, Koeman said: "We deserved more for the way we played.

"We were disciplined and organised. But the referee did not help in sending off Dirk Marcellis.

"It was barely a yellow card. When you make a decision like that, you show you do not know football."