 Goals
Hyypia 11
Desailly 13, Gronkjaer 26
Match
Report
Gerard Houllier cut a sad, desolate figure, soaked
to the skin in a south-west London downpour, as Chelsea snatched
the Premiership's fourth and last Champions League place with a
comfortable win they did not even need.
A goal up early on through skipper Sami Hyypia,
Liverpool made the ideal start in their quest for the win that would
take them back among the cream of the continent.
But Marcel Desailly's almost instant equaliser and
Jesper Gronkjaer's virtuoso winner sparked a wild party at Stamford
Bridge as Chelsea qualified for the Champions League for the first
time since 1999 - when they were minutes away from a semi-final
appearance.
Liverpool boss Houllier, who has to be content now
with the Worthington Cup which will bring a second-tier European
involvement in the UEFA Cup, moped off at the end just a few minutes
after England midfielder Steven Gerrard had added to his chagrin
by being dismissed for his second yellow card after lunging at Graeme
Le Saux.
Here were Liverpool battling for Champions League
status on the last day of the season for the third time in four
years but needing a win on the ground where their previous 10 visits
had produced seven defeats and three draws - including a 4-0 mauling
last season.
At stake, by popular estimate, was upwards of £20million
for rejoining Europe's elite and Chelsea wanted it just as much.
Only needing a draw, they were favourites but had to come from behind
in a breathless first half, played in a steady downpour.
"Never mind Cardiff's Millennium Stadium next
week, this is the REAL Cup Final," announced Chelsea chairman
Ken Bates in his programme notes. With his club facing liabilities
of £80 million, he would say that, wouldn't he?
Yet there was no doubt that his side attacked the
task with cup final-type fervour that Liverpool somehow seemed to
lack.
Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri could not find room
for Zola's twinkling feet in the starting line-up and all the early
maelstrom that was bound to come. It was only in the last 20 minutes
he was allowed to come on and parade his tricks for possibly the
last time before his adoring public.
Indeed the football lacked real quality throughout
but there was sufficient goalmouth incident to warrant the frenzied
atmosphere in London's SW6.
Michael Owen, whose last-minute goal beat Chelsea
at Anfield in October, gave them something to think about in the
opening minute this time, turning on the end of a link-up between
Milan Baros and Danny Murphy to fire a low, angled shot which Carlo
Cudicini smothered at the foot of his right-hand post.
But the 28-goal England striker soon became immersed
in the breathless battle around him and needed a more muscular partner,
which Houllier recognised at half-time with the introduction of
Emile Heskey for Salif Diao.
Liverpool had another chance when Murphy won a fortunate
free-kick following Emmanuel Petit's challenge 30 yards out but
Gerrard drove it well off target.
But Chelsea fans in a season's-best crowd of 41,911
crowd had barely finished heaping derision on that poor effort than
another free-kick brought Liverpool an 11th-minute lead through
Hyypia's header.
His secondary run was not picked up as players jockeyed
for position as Murphy swept the ball into the box. And the big
Finn was completely unmarked as he headed down and in from little
more than eight yards.
Chelsea were on level terms, though, within two
minutes. Liverpool had opportunities to clear down their left flank
but allowed Le Saux to take possession. He found Gronkjaer who clipped
a lovely cross for Marcel Desailly to out-jump Jamie Carragher and
nod in off the inside of a post.
So despite all the forward talent on display it
was two centre backs - both captains - who struck the opening blows.
The next scorer was something of a surprise also
- Danish winger Gronkjaer netting only his fifth of the season,
but what a stylish strike from the Dane.
Admittedly, Liverpool's defenders back-pedalled
obligingly to let him cut in from the right, but as soon bas he
saw the whites of the goalposts, the former Ajax ace let fly with
a stunning left foot drive which flashed beyond Dudek and just inside
the far post.
It was a goal good enough to win any game and always
looked to be a bridge too far for Liverpool to cross.
In truth, they rarely had the style or heart to
threaten Chelsea's composure in the second half when the home side
were able to indulge themselves with the introduction of Zola and
Carlton Cole.
Own sent an instinctive shot way over and Baros
was pulled up for handball after netting from Cudicini's uncharacteristic
slip.
But Cole missed a good chance after Hasselbaink
limped off. By this time Le Saux and Gerrard, Liverpool's only prominent
fighter, had been swapping kicks and had both been cautioned; Gerrard's
final lunge near the end was too much for ref Alan Wiley who produced
a red card.
It was a pity for Houllier that Liverpool had not
caught light much earlier on what turned out a Blue, Blue Day.
Press Association
Teams
Chelsea: Cudicini,
Melchiot, Gallas  ,
Desailly, Babayaro, Gronkjaer (Stanic 68), Petit, Lampard, Le Saux
,
Hasselbaink
(Cole 80), Gudjohnsen (Zola 72).
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Morris.
Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia,
Traore, Riise (Cheyrou 75), Diouf (Berger 63), Gerrard
=  ,
Murphy, Diao (Heskey 45), Baros, Owen.
Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Biscan.
Att: 41,911
Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
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