Adam Lallana: "I thought I'd scored the winner"

When Raheem Sterling chested the ball down to Adam Lallana just outside the box with 11 minutes left, everyone in the ground thought the 26-year-old's rasping drive was finding the back of the net.

Lallana himself, has even told the club's official website that he was already off on his celebration, until Man of the Match Thibaut Courtois spectacularly denied him with a strong right hand as the game ended 1-1.

"I can't believe the 'keeper saved it, I was halfway on my celebration," Lallana told Liverpoolfc.com after the first leg. "It was a fantastic save and probably one of the reasons why he got Man of the Match. He is world-class and Chelsea are a world-class team."

Had the effort found the back of the net it would surely have given the hosts a deserved second goal, after Raheem Sterling's stunning solo run from the halfway line ended in an equaliser after Eden Hazard had given the Blues a first-half lead from the spot, a decision Lallana thought was dubious.

"I thought we played well in the first half but gave away a pretty soft penalty. The lads showed great character to get back into it. We said at half-time to be patient and that we were going to get chances.

"We come off the pitch disappointed but still in the game. We'll go to Stamford Bridge and we're fully confident we can go through to the final," the English international defiantly stated.

Lallana did not enter the field of play until the 69th minute, replacing Steven Gerrard after Raheem Sterling had already evened things up, but he clearly impressed by the efforts of his 20-year-old teammate.

"He has shown maturity for the last three or four weeks - he has had to play in a position where he has not played so much.

"I thought he took his goal superbly; he let the ball run across the body, had a couple of touches and on his weaker foot put it into the bottom corner."

The result means Liverpool have lost just one in their last 15 going into an FA Cup home tie against Bolton Wanderers on the weekend before the second leg against Chelsea, and Lallana is positive that the Reds have finally discarded their early-season hoodoos and can take confidence going into the next two games.

"We had a difficult start to the season, but the manager has found a shape and got people on the pitch in the right areas; we're causing teams problems.

"There is great confidence flowing among the team," said Lallana. "Philippe is at the top of his game, Raheem, and it was great to have Stevie back fit. He hit the post as well and came through it unscathed.

"Defensively, we're looking good as a shape and we just keep improving."