Chelsea 1, Liverpool 0 (D,Post)

Apr 26 2007 by Ian Doyle at Stamford Bridge

As two years ago, this first leg was a tight, dour affair with quality football at a premium.

For all his bleating over players missing through injury and suspension, Mourinho still managed to field a starting line-up that was worth in excess of £150million in transfer fees.

The absence of Steve Finnan meant Benitez was forced to tinker with the system that served so well in Barcelona in the first knockout round, Bolo Zenden coming in on the left flank to face a former club in the Champions League for the third successive round.

It was a tactical switch that didn’t quite pay off for Benitez, Zenden too often wasting decent positions particularly when Liverpool began to find their feet immediately after the interval. The Dutchman wasn’t alone in producing an under-par performance.

Otherwise, the inclusion of Javier Mascherano ahead of Momo Sissoko was the only change from the team that started in the Nou Camp in February. Jamie Carragher’s 89th appearance in Europe equalled the club record held by Ian Callaghan.

Liverpool had to withstand a barrage of pressure during the first half in Barcelona, and it was a similar case last night. And as in Spain, they eventually buckled.

An early warning came in the fifth minute when a mistake from Mascherano gave Drogba a run at the Liverpool back-line, the Ivorian hounded out after neglecting the option to play in Joe Cole.

Reina then had to produce a fine save diving to his left to repel a Lampard shot from 10 yards after a Drogba knock-down from Ashley Cole’s left-wing cross had caused panic in the area.

Another Liverpool mistake, this time a slack pass by Riise, sent Drogba clear down the right but the striker failed to spot Joe Cole unmarked in the centre before his intended pass was easily claimed by Reina.

Cole himself was marginally too late in attempting to reach Shevchenko’s cross-cum-shot in the six-yard area, while Reina’s challenge with Drogba did enough to force the Chelsea man to glance his header wide when meeting a Cole cross unattended.

Lampard then skimmed a 25-yard free-kick narrowly wide of Reina’s right post before the inevitable on 29 minutes.

Characteristically, it came from a Chelsea counter-attack. After a Liverpool move floundered, Ricardo Carvalho raced out of defence and fed Drogba down the inside right channel. The Ivorian then used his strength to hold off Daniel Agger and cross for Joe Cole, who arrived ahead of Arbeloa and struck beyond Reina from six yards.

Liverpool had shown precious little as an attacking force, but with Chelsea relaxing the visitors gradually worked their way into the game.

As ever, Gerrard was the force driving the recovery. After heading a Kuyt cross over under pressure from Ashley Cole before the interval, Gerrard curled a shot off target from the edge of the area.

And only the brilliance of Cech prevented the Liverpool skipper bringing his team level on 53 minutes. A Riise corner was cleared as far as Gerrard who, loitering on the edge of the area, cracked a left-foot volley towards the bottom corner that the Czech goalkeeper magnificently turned behind at full stretch.

With Alonso gaining influence in the centre of the park and both Zenden and Gerrard mining the flanks exposed by Chelsea’s narrow midfield, Liverpool were much improved.

Chelsea claims for a penalty when the ball struck Arbeloa’s arm were contentious, not least because the incident happened outside the area.

The ineffective Craig Bellamy was dragged off soon after half-time, and Liverpool sought to capitalise on the height of Peter Crouch as they peppered the Chelsea box with crosses and corner kicks.

But with the Chelsea defence as well organised as the club’s pre-match attempts to fabricate some atmosphere, the home side found their second wind during the closing stages.

Drogba’s shot was easy for Reina and his header then floated into the side-netting, but the Liverpool goalkeeper was at his best to palm away a drive from the quiet Lampard.

Now Anfield awaits a re-run of that famous night two years ago. Benitez, though, is aware his players have it all to do if they are to enjoy a similar outcome.

CHELSEA (4-4-2): Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Makelele, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 84), Mikel, Lampard, Shevchenko (Kalou 76), Drogba. Subs: Cudicini, Boulahrouz, Geremi, Bridge, Diarra

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Gerrard, Alonso (Pennant 83), Mascherano, Zenden, Kuyt, Bellamy (Crouch 52). Subs: Dudek, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Sissoko, Paletta.
BOOKING: Mascherano (foul).

REFEREE: Markus Merk (Germany).

ATT: 39,483.

NEXT MATCH: Portsmouth v Liverpool, Barclays Premiership, Saturday 3pm.