Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez needs to be bold if his team hopes to overcome a 3-1 first-leg loss to Chelsea on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge. If fit, the key to success will be Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. He must be pushed forward to support Fernando Torres more closely in a 4-4-2 formation if Liverpool hopes to advance to the semifinals. With Gerrard playing the role of supporting striker, Liverpool should be able to score some of those much-needed goals against Chelsea’s sometimes-shaky defense.

While Liverpool does need to score — conceding any goals will make life even more difficult for Gerrard and Co. Without Gerrard, however, Liverpool does not have a chance to advance. In addition, losing two goals to simple set pieces at Anfield Road last week questioned the wisdom of Benitez’s zonal marking system. Liverpool’s defense needs to to communicate better when players run across their space in the penalty area to avoid a repeat of Branislav Ivanovic’s headers. To do so, Benitez will need to revert to man-to-man marking if he hopes to guide his side to a win.

Chelsea has it’s own problems that could help Liverpool over the long run. With captain John Terry absent (he was yellow-carded last week and will have to sit out due to card accumulation), his likely replacement is defender Richard Carvalho, who just recently returned from injury.

As jolting as a 3-1 loss at home is for any club, Liverpool have the experience to mount a comeback. History shows that Liverpool is a side that is not easily broken. Although they may have to score twice to stay competitive, this is the same club that in 2005 netted three goals in a span of six minutes in a Champions League final against AC Milan to win the trophy.

What do you think? Can Liverpool overcome a two-goal deficit and advance to the semifinals? What do they need to do to defeat Chelsea?