Gerrard in the spotlight as Reds face Chelsea showdown

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard applauds the crowd after a Group B Champions League match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Nov. 4, 2014. AP Photo

Brendan Rodgers insists there is no chance Steven Gerrard will crack under pressure when the Liverpool captain bids for redemption against Chelsea on Nov. 8.
      
Gerrard endured one of the worst moments of his career when the Reds midfielder last faced Chelsea in April as his disastrous slip allowed Demba Ba to score the goal that shattered Liverpool's challenge to win the title for the first time since 1990.
      
The 34-year-old has been well below his best since that agonising mistake and his spluttering campaign, which mirrors his team's own struggles, suffered another blow on Tuesday when he was restricted to a 20-minute substitute appearance in the 1-0 Champions League loss at Real Madrid.
      
Reds boss Rodgers also rested several other key players and said he was trying to keep Gerrard, who has been bothered by a hamstring injury, fresh ahead of the Chelsea showdown.
      
But with Liverpool languishing 12 points behind leaders Chelsea, Gerrard desperately wants to erase the bitter memory of last season's mistake and this week's demotion by delivering a dominant display against Jose Mourinho's team, who will swagger into Anfield unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions this season.
      
Gerrard has risen to the occasion many times before and Rodgers is banking on another inspirational display from his talisman.
      
"He has had hard moments in his career and he always responds magnificently. There was no blame. It was just an unfortunate thing," Rodgers said of the slip that is now immortalised by Chelsea fans in a taunting chant Gerrard is sure to hear many times on Saturday.
      
"He was instrumental in our run last year and how well we played.
      
"He is a big character...

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