Rick Parry felt it was inevitable Liverpool would face Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League.
Reds chief optimistic after drawing Chelsea in quarter-finals
Rick Parry felt there was an air of inevitability as Liverpool were once again pitted against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League.
Friday's draw saw the Reds again paired with English opposition in the last eight of the competition, but this time they square off against regular European nemesis Chelsea.
And chief executive Parry admitted he was almost half-expecting Guus Hiddink's side.
"Well it's that time of the year again isn't it - a certain sense of déjà vu - it's our regular get together with them, but you've got to play the teams sooner or later so it doesn't really matter to us," Parry told
Sky Sports News.
Liverpool and Chelsea have met eight times in the Champions League, but this will be the first time the pair have met at the quarter-finals stage, although Parry thinks it will be much of the same.
Familiar foe
"I don't think it makes any difference at all," Parry said of the last eight pairing. "We know what we have got to do over the two legs, we know what we are capable of doing so we'll get on with it now."
Three of the previous meetings were at the semi-final stage and Liverpool hold the upper hand with a 2-1 record over their rivals. However, those victories came when the second leg was at Anfield.
With the second leg of this tie being played at Stamford Bridge, Parry was asked whether that will make the tie more difficult for the 2005 winners.
He replied: "I don't think that bothers us, I don't think it makes a significant difference.
"It's not about historical form, it's about form at this stage of the season, obviously we are coming into form so fingers crossed [we are] peaking nicely and if we keep everybody fit then we're optimistic."
Hillsborough anniversary
Parry confirmed Liverpool are still awaiting confirmation about avoiding a fixture on 15th April, which is the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster.
He said of the fixture switch: "Of course it can be done, it's relatively simple I think to do and there's no more important issue for Liverpool than this so let's hope we get the right outcome."
And Parry admitted it was a 'strange' moment finding out Liverpool's fate as Friday's draw was Parry's last as Reds chief executive.
"You can't help but look back over the years, we started off going through the Uefa Cup draw wishing we were going into the other room with the big boys.
"We've clawed our way up to be a regular participant, it's a strange kind of feeling, clearly great to still be here and all being well a very exciting end to the season."
