The Reds play host for the first leg and have lost only one of their last 14 games in all competitions, with Jose Mourinho’s Premier League leaders their opponents

Brendan Rodgers has called on Liverpool to continue their recent resurgence in Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.

Rodgers found himself under increased scrutiny at Anfield following an indifferent start to the season but the Reds have now lost just one of their last 14 games in all competitions and are unbeaten in eight following their defeat at Manchester United in mid-December.

Immediately after that loss at Old Trafford, Liverpool team beat Bournemouth 3-1 in the League Cup quarter-finals to set up a last-four tie against Jose Mourinho’s Premier League leaders.

Rodgers was delighted after Saturday’s 2-0 win at Aston Villa but insists there is still room for improvement ahead of Chelsea’s visit to Anfield.

“There has been a lot of hard work. The players have got confidence now in the way of working and they have been performing very, very well,” he told reporters.

“There’s a lot of improvement left in this team and group but we’re building towards the future here at the club. We have been progressing very well.

“You will always be looking to improve, no matter how well you are doing. It’s the challenge when you work with young players; you saw the youthfulness in the team [on Saturday].

“We obviously had a bump in the road in the early part of the season but, in this period, the team is performing at a good level – defensively strong and playing some wonderful football. It’s pleasing but we have to keep improving.”

Rodgers will be under no illusions as to the scale of the task facing Liverpool, though, with Chelsea – who beat Derby County in the last round – looking imperious for much of the campaign.

Mourinho’s side have scored 51 goals in their 22 top-flight fixtures so far this season – 20 more than eighth-placed Liverpool – and hammered Swansea City 5-0 away on Saturday.

Chelsea also have fond recent memories of going to Anfield, having won 2-1 there in November just six months after all but ending Liverpool’s 2013-14 Premier League title dreams with a famous 2-0 victory.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is likely to be restored to the starting XI after missing Saturday’s win at Villa, with Glen Johnson and Adam Lallana also approaching full fitness. Mourinho, meanwhile, may opt to reinstate first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after his finger injury.

The Italian and the former Southampton man both scored their second career goals for the Reds to extend the hosts’ winless run in the Premier League to seven

Goals from Fabio Borini and substitute Rickie Lambert helped Liverpool inflict more misery on beleaguered Aston Villa and their under-fire manager Paul Lambert with a comfortable win on Saturday.

The build-up at Villa Park was dominated by talk of a supporter protest against Lambert and the Villa hierarchy during the early stages of the match and, although there was no huge demonstration from the stands, the pressure will continue to mount after a seventh league match without a win.

Italian forward Borini prodded home the opener in the 24th minute for his first Liverpool goal in the Premier League since April 2013.

Martin Skrtel saw Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan tip his header onto the post after the break, but it was Villa who created the better second-half openings with Christian Benteke and Nathan Baker both missing promising chances.

Liverpool took advantage of their profligacy, though, when Lambert – brought off the bench for Borini – drilled home expertly 11 minutes from time.

Defeat for Villa means they remain just three points above the relegation zone, while an improving Liverpool move up to sixth.

Both defences were on top in a scrappy opening, although Baker – playing in place of the suspended Ciaran Clark in one of two changes – and Benteke had half chances with headers.

Alberto Moreno then thought he had opened the scoring for Liverpool by racing on to Philippe Coutinho’s through ball and slotting past Guzan, only to be flagged for offside.

Liverpool were not to be denied in the 24th minute, though.

Stand-in captain Jordan Henderson’s excellent guided cross from the right was volleyed home by the outstretched boot of Borini from close range to end his lengthy wait for a Premier League goal in a Liverpool shirt.

Raheem Sterling, back in the side in place of captain Steven Gerrard after being rested for the win over Sunderland last weekend, had the opportunity to double the visitors’ lead when he raced free, only to chip tamely into the hands of Guzan.

Villa finished the half well, but Simon Mignolet kept out Carlos Sanchez’s stinging long-range drive and Tom Cleverley poked wide when one-on-one with the Belgian goalkeeper.

Shortly after the restart, Guzan made a fine stop to push Skrtel’s powerful header onto the post, while Sanchez was perhaps lucky to avoid punishment when he caught Sterling in the face with a high boot.

Lambert brought on Andreas Weimann and Valencia loanee Carles Gil for his debut from the bench in an attempt to find more spark going forward.

And Villa responded just after the hour mark when Benteke spun sharply in the area and unleashed a fierce half-volley at compatriot Mignolet, who parried well.

The home side continued to threaten and Baker put a thumping header over the crossbar with Mignolet stranded, before last-ditch defending from Skrtel denied Benteke a good opportunity in the penalty area.

Having escaped those scares, Liverpool put the game beyond doubt when Lambert – who had been on the pitch just eight minutes – latched onto Sterling’s pass and drilled an angled shot into bottom left-hand corner, with Villa fans then voicing their frustration as the final whistle blew.

The 21-year-old made only one appearance for Brendan Rodgers’ side this season and has joined the Serie A club on a permanent deal

AC Milan have completed the signing of Liverpool attacker Suso.

The 21-year-old’s only appearance for Brendan Rodgers’ side this season came in their League Cup shootout victory over Middlesbrough in September.

The youngster’s contract was set to expire in the summer, but Liverpool announced the deal had been finalised on Saturday and he will move to San Siro immediately.

“Liverpool FC can confirm that midfielder Suso has today completed a permanent transfer to Italian side AC Milan,” read a club statement.

“The 21-year-old Spaniard departs Anfield for Serie A four-and-a-half years after joining the Reds from Cadiz CF.

“Everybody at Liverpool thanks Suso for his contribution and wishes him all the best for the future.”

Suso made just 21 first-team appearances for Liverpool, scoring once.

He bolsters the attacking options of Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi, whose side sit eighth in Serie A ahead of their home game against Atalanta on Sunday.