Riise: We must reach final for Xabi

John Arne Riise today pledged that Liverpool would be playing for Xabi Alonso when they face Chelsea at Anfield on Tuesday.

The Spanish midfielder will miss the second leg through suspension after collecting a late booking last night following a foul on Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Alonso was furious with the decision, kicking the pitch as he left the field at the final whistle, and Riise confirmed he was distraught to be missing out on the semi-final showpiece.

Riise said: "We're going to miss Xabi Alonso on Tuesday as he's just come back into the team. He says it wasn't a yellow card so it's a massive blow for him personally and also for the team, as he's done very well since he came back.

"He's absolutely distraught because it's the semi-final second leg at Anfield and anyone would be disappointed. We're going to play the game for him. We've got to cope without him and Didi Hamann is coming back from injury so perhaps he can slot in."

Manager Rafael Benitez also insisted Alonso should not have been cautioned, though refrained from criticising French referee Alain Sars.

Benitez said: "I have seen it again and it's very clear that it wasn't a yellow card. We can't do anything about it but it's so clear that it's a pity. I prefer not to talk about the referee though. We played three months without Xabi and we won a lot of games, so we will try to do the same again."

Benitez believes that Liverpool's supporters will give them the advantage at Anfield.

He added: "It is a good situation. We have very good supporters, they will be with us at Anfield and we need to win. We always have confidence and we need to believe in ourselves."