By dixon9
April 29 2007

A match that surprised me in many ways; our approach and play, Benitez´s tactics, the result and the lack of bookings. In fact, I’d go as far to say I expected the flow of the match to be the opposite of what transpired – certainly when considering the first half performance.

It was a very impressive game all round from Chelsea with first half dominance and second half control.  Liverpool looked strangely nervous during the initial periods with Riise being among those who almost made very costly mistakes.

 

Benitez´s tactics and team selection left a few of us with furrowed brows (and I bet a few scousers had the same expression).  The Spaniard opted for Zenden on the left who was largely unable to get the better of a recently off-form Ferreira, Gerrard was almost wastefully employed on the right of midfield so as to accommodate Mascherano and Alonso in the central roles and most of all, Crouch was left on the bench. 

 

Ferreira actually surprised me as he had a reasonable game against Chelsea old boy Zenden, Gerrard did what he could from the right but ended up drifting towards the centre anyway during what was an intense midfield battle, and the few high crosses from the Liverpool flanks were dealt with quite easily with no Crouch there to cause problems.

 

Chelsea were almost at their most imperious during the first half with wave after wave of pressure although we were unable to convert this pressure into the amount of goals it so richly deserved.  Unfortunately for us, Reina was in fine form indeed, pulling off two spectacular saves from Lampard and essentially keeping this semi-final still within reach for his side.  On 7 mins he made a remarkable save from our midfielder after Drogba´s lay-off.

 

Liverpool fans probably feel that the bane for their team when playing us consists of Didier Drogba and Joe Cole and Wednesday night was to prove no different. 

 

Drogba in particular turned in the sort of performance which has got him the plaudits this season and Agger and Carragher were unable to contain him – our man from the Ivorian Coast won almost every ball sent his way and it was his mix of power and ingenuity that brought along the first goal.  Carvalho carried the ball out from the back and with the Liverpool defence almost naively far too advanced, the Portuguese slid his pass out to Drogba who was waiting on the right.  With Agger marshalling him as best he could, Drogba took the Dane on and turned him on the inside with a similar move which he used against Hyypia two seasons ago, his precise pass was met by the onrushing Joe Cole who had managed to get on the wrong side of his marker and Reina was left with no chance from close range.

Drogba was to threaten with regularity although earlier he was unable to make the necessary pass for Joe Cole as the advanced Liverpool midfield and defence left them dangerously exposed and later was also unlucky not to connect sufficiently with a header as Reina rushed out.

The second half was very different with Chelsea almost seemedly content due to tiredness to let Liverpool with the ball and come at us.  The reds dominated In terms of possession to be honest but were largely unable to make any real penetration – one of the exceptions being a superb Gerrard volley that was met with a just as superb Cech save.

Bellamy was soon replaced by Crouch after 51 minutes and the tall forward made a left-foot volley producing another brilliant save from Cech.

During the latter stages Reina was alert in keeping out Drogba´s shot at his near post and again in keeping out a Lampard drive.  Then, almost at the death Drogba headed just wide from a Lampard free-kick.

No yellow cards for us which was a relief although it remains to be seen if it stays that way during the return.  With the influential Anfield crowd we must hope the match is given a strong referee.

 

It’s definitely advantage to Chelsea with no away goal entering the equation for us and we’ll have to be strong during the inevitable initial 20-25 minute onslaught of pressure – we will need to survive that and the addition of Essien gives me heart that we will.  Benitez has to be careful – too much pressure could again leave his defence exposed and a Chelsea goal should almost certainly signal a trip to Athens.  Whatever the outcome, next Tuesday will be a memorable night.

 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVsRn3aCWlY

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Makelele, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 84), Mikel, Lampard, Shevchenko (Kalou 76), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Boulahrouz, Geremi, Bridge, Diarra.

Goals: Joe Cole 29.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Gerrard, Alonso (Pennant 83), Mascherano, Zenden, Kuyt, Bellamy (Crouch 52).
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Sissoko, Paletta.

Booked: Mascherano.

Att: 39,483

Ref: Markus Merk (Germany).

What they said:

Mourinho:

“We normally score a goal and if we score a goal we have got a big chance of reaching the final.  I think Liverpool think they can overturn the result but we are winning 1-0 and have a good defensive team."

"I thought our performance was top class!  We had so many chances and we finally scored with chance number six.”

"The second half was different from the first. Liverpool attacked more and had a chance with a great shot from Steven Gerrard."

Joe Cole:

"We'll see the importance of the goal next week - it's only half-time.  Liverpool played well in the second half and there was a bit of fatigue creeping in - it's one of those games where we had to dig in.”

"It was a good battling performance from everyone and, although we're happy to win the game, we're not going to get overexcited.”

"I've seen teams with bigger margins than us get overturned in the second leg, so it's a case of keeping our feet on the floor. Next week will be the decider."

Reina:

"In the second half, I tell you they were tired.  We couldn't move the ball as quick as we normally do, but they were tired.”

"They have a tough game on Saturday and maybe for the second leg on Tuesday the legs will not be the freshest."

Liverpool travel to Portsmouth on Saturday already assured of a Champions League place and with manager Rafael Benitez able to rest key players.

"I hope the atmosphere at Anfield is going to be the most important ever.”

"We are very confident when we play at home and we have to show Chelsea how important it is for us.”

"We have to improve. We have to try to score. I don't know which way but we have to find a solution to get a goal.”

"We beat them in the league 2-0 earlier in the season and we can do it again."

Gerrard:

"I think Chelsea edged the first half on chances and Pepe has made a couple of good saves.  In the second, we dominated possession and pushed forward without creating clear-cut chances.”

"But their keeper has pulled off a top save from me. I don’t think any other keeper in Europe would have got that because I was away celebrating."

"I think Chelsea are happy with the result but I think they will show us a lot of respect in the second leg."

"It's half-time. We would have liked a better scoreline but we get on with it. We go into the game needing to score the first goal.”

Alan Smith Column:

”Drogba was like a rampaging bull on the narrow streets of Pamplona. A succession of bodies was scattered helplessly in his path as he charged relentlessly towards the Liverpool end that seemed to pass for a red rag.”