Gerrard hails Liverpool's European record

By Jeremy Butler

LIVERPOOL (Reuters) - Steven Gerrard hailed Liverpool's resilience after they reached the Champions League final for the second time in three years.

Rafael Benitez's side beat Chelsea in a penalty shootout on Tuesday night after Daniel Agger had brought the aggregate score level at 1-1 with a first half goal at Anfield.

Now they have a chance of lifting the trophy for the sixth time, having beaten AC Milan on penalties in a dramatic final in 2005 after going 3-0 down before halftime.

"It's superb to be there twice in three years," Gerrard told reporters. "We haven't done well domestically but we are some side in Europe. We are everybody's nightmare because we never know when we are beaten and that is a great attitude to have."

Liverpool, who were knocked out of the League and FA Cups by Arsenal, are third in the Premier League 13 points behind Chelsea and 18 points adrift of leaders Manchester United.

But Gerrard believes beating Chelsea for a second time in the competition will finally stop the west London club's manager Jose Mourinho claiming they were cheated when losing in 2005.

The Portuguese coach maintains that the only goal in that semi-final, scored by Luis Garcia, should not have been allowed.

"It lays to bed a few ghosts, it's still hurting them because they keep bringing it up," added Gerrard. "We forgot about the semi-final a couple years ago."