Liverpool 1, Chelsea 0 (D,Post)

May 2 2007 by Ian Doyle at Anfield

1-1 on aggregate; Liverpool win 4-1 on penalties

Alonso emerged in the second half to complement a midfield in which Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano dominated Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele and John Obi Mikel.

Steve Finnan returned at right-back after missing the last four games with a neck injury, while Peter Crouch partnered Kuyt in attack – the same pairing that tormented Chelsea during Liverpool’s 2-0 Premiership win here in January. Like the rest of Benitez’s men, the pair ran themselves into the ground with a heroic effort.

The Kop was in full voice long before kick-off, and the teams were greeted with a deafening wall of noise akin to that of 2005.

While Luis Garcia netted in the fifth minute that evening, the home team had to wait until the 22nd minute to go ahead on the night and level the tie. At least there was no debate about whether it had crossed the line this time.

Joe Cole netted the only goal last Wednesday to capitalise on Liverpool’s sluggish start, but he was partially responsible for his team going behind after upending Steven Gerrard on the left for a free-kick.

In a move straight from the training ground, Gerrard rolled the ball across for the approaching Agger to sidefoot through a group of players from the edge of the area into the bottom corner.

Given Agger was heavily criticised after being given the runaround by Drogba last week, it was small wonder the Danish centre-back celebrated with such gusto.

It was a lead Liverpool merited for a vibrant, high-tempo opening as Chelsea stuck men behind the ball and booted long for Drogba, a defensive tactic Mourinho persisted with all night.

Drogba then demonstrated both sides to his game as Chelsea finally began to build some momentum. First, the Ivorian embarrassingly writhed on the turf after being breathed on by Agger, and then solicited a fine block from Reina after Mascherano had given the ball away to Mikel.

Chelsea came close again five minutes before half-time when Essien couldn’t turn the ball home at the far post after Drogba had headed on a Frank Lampard corner, the effort striking the shoulder of the makeshift centre-back.

Liverpool had the next opening on 56 minutes when neat trickery by Jermaine Pennant – the winger an outstanding performer before succumbing to injury – created space for a cross to the far post for Crouch, whose header was blocked by Petr Cech’s legs before the ball was hacked away by John Terry.

And they were closer moments later when John Arne Riise’s left-wing cross was headed on to the crossbar by Kuyt with the Czech international keeper beaten.

Drogba then succeeded in earning Agger a caution with some more simulation shenanigans before Liverpool carved out another opening, Terry misjudging a long pass but the ball wouldn’t come down quick enough for Pennant, allowing Essien to race over and block his shot.

The tension was tangible, especially when, on a rare Chelsea sortie, Ashley Cole found space behind the Liverpool defence and his low cross was turned over by Jamie Carragher inside the six-yard box with Drogba loitering.

Zenden struck a 20-yard drive Cech clutched at the second attempt, but no more scoring meant Liverpool chartered new territory at Anfield in this competition with an extra-time period.

If Chelsea were tiring from their efforts chasing the quadruple, it didn’t show.

Liverpool were then deprived of a perfectly good goal on 100 minutes when Alonso’s piledriver was parried out to Kuyt, who rattled home. The assistant referee ruled the Dutchman was in an offside position when the initial shot came in; television replays showed otherwise.

Benitez’s side almost won it with two minutes remaining when Robbie Fowler, on for the exhausted Javier Mascherano, laid the ball off for Kuyt only for Cech to beat out the Dutchman’s shot.

The finale was so nerve-wracking that Benitez’s wife Montse was praying in her seat in the directors’ box and looking at the Kop instead of the spot-kicks as the players prepared for the decisive shoot-out.

Then came the penalties. Athens need now prepare for a Scouse invasion.

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise; Pennant (Alonso 78), Gerrard, Mascherano (Fowler 118), Zenden; Crouch (Bellamy 106), Kuyt. Subs: Padelli, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Gonzalez.
BOOKINGS: Agger and Zenden (both fouls).

CHELSEA (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ferreira, Essien, Terry, A Cole; Makelele (Geremi 118); J Cole (Robben 98), Obi Mikel, Lampard, Kalou; Drogba (Wright-Phillips 107). Subs: Cudicini, Bridge, Boulahrouz, Diarra.
BOOKING: A Cole (foul).

REFEREE: Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).

ATT: 42,554.

NEXT GAME: Fulham v Liverpool, Barclays Premiership, Saturday 3pm