Chelsea knocked out of the Carling Cup

Liverpool's Maxi (R) celebrates scoring the opening goal

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas believes his players are being affected by the anxiety of the club's fans when playing at Stamford Bridge.

Goals from Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly condemned Chelsea to a 2-0 loss against Liverpool in their Carling Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.It was the second time in nine days Chelsea lost to Liverpool, after a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge in the English Premier League on November 20.

Welshman Craig Bellamy, who had been left out of the Liverpool team for their Premier League clash against Manchester City on Sunday on compassionate grounds, looked shaken as fans paid their respects, but he went on to provide both assists in the win.

After their third defeat in four home matches, Villas-Boas called on the Londoners' supporters to start taking the pressure off the players.

And at the Emirates stadium, Roberto Mancini's Manchester City progressed to the last four after a hard-fought 1-0 quarter-final win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

A superb counter-attacking move saw striker Edin Dzeko dash clear from just outside his own area after an Arsenal corner, and he fed Adam Johnson.