UEFA Champions League Semi Final 1st Leg
Tuesday 22nd April 2008 @ 7.45pm
Anfield
The reds suffered 94th minute heartbreak in the 1st Leg at Anfield after a game that should have seen the reds over the horizon, and packing their bags for Moscow.
Liverpool went ahead just before the half-time break through a Dirk Kuyt goal, but should have put a number of other chances away in a game in which Torres, was unusually, off-target. In the 94th minute Chelsea got lucky, and snatched a draw against the run of play for the second time this season at Anfield, when John Arne Riise headed an own goal past Pepe Reina.
The game started cagey with Chelsea winning the toss and making the reds kick towards the Kop in the first half. Chelsea started off with some decent possession, but the best chances were falling to the reds. Torres and Kuyt were both guilty of squandering great goalscoring opportunities, but Kuyt eventually fired home from close range after some excellent dogged build up play by the Dutchman.
It was deserved by the reds.
The second half began and Liverpool were in total control. Gerrard fired a volley that Petr Cech tipped over the bar, before Torres once again had another chance to grab his first goal of the tie.
A groin injury to Fabio Aurelio meant Riise was sent on to replace the Brazilian.
The game opened up more towards the end of the second half, but Chelsea were still failing to create any realistic openings even though Anelka had been sent on to partner ‘Emile’ Drogba.
In the 94th minute Kalou managed to reach the bye-line and fire in a cross right in to the six yard box. Riise, unsure about clearing with his unfavoured right foot opted to try and head the ball, but his connection sent the ball past Reina.
The tie turns round in an instant. It was a sucker punch and the reds will have to pick themselves up. If Liverpool are to make it to Moscow, yet again they will have to do it the hard way. The reds must score at Chelsea or our involvement in the competition is over. But as Steven Gerrard said:
‘We haven’t played at Chelsea with Fernando Torres yet.’
Liverpool fans are in for another European nail-biter.
ur sympathies. But this is Europe. And we are Liverpool. And this is what we do.
Teams:
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio (Riise 61), Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Babel (Benayoun 75), Gerrard, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Hyypia, Crouch, Pennant, Lucas.
Goals: Kuyt 43.
Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Lampard, Makelele, Ballack (Anelka 86), Joe Cole (Kalou 63), Drogba, Malouda.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Shevchenko, Obi, Alex, Belletti.
Booked: Terry.
Goals: Riise 90 og.
Att: 42,180
Ref: Konrad Plautz (Austria).
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12 replies to Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
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A song for “THE COP”
“USE YOUR HEAD”
Use your Head Riise, use your Head,
Stay in Attack, don’t try to Defend,
Use your Head, if you wonna score a Goal
But Head the Ball in the Net, “AT THE OTHER END”
April 23rd, 2008 (10:57)
you cant blame the time Benitez coz the added time was for both teams not Chelsea alone.You could have scored but it was Chelsea who did.Looserfool is out.MANUTD vs Chel$ea final .You sing about Torres well ha was very average last night.Couldnt stop the ball from that Gerrard pass.
Hahahahahah
April 23rd, 2008 (11:30)
Guys i really would want to feel sorry for you Scousers but you tend to talk too much.The coach Benitez blames the referee for the time as if the time was only added for Chelsea.He forgets there was stoppege for Aurelios injury.He might have scored in the last 4 minutes but unfortunately Chelsea did.
MANUTD Vs Chelsea final.
April 23rd, 2008 (11:56)
artwellmanutd wot part of manchester are you not from mate,you just concentrate on barcelona and if you ever want to see the cup you won in 99 its sittin pretty in the anfield trophy cabinet
April 23rd, 2008 (13:24)
Dont worry, liverpool will bounce back next week. It was rough
justice last night. We have got nothing to fear from Chelsea. They never looked like scoring.
April 23rd, 2008 (16:42)
Don’t worry, mr artwellmanunt, We lfc fans sing “Never walk alone” because our liverpool players are and were just great specially last tuesday. I feel that we can make it through next week under our great manager Rafa and our beloved captain Gerrard. Just Walk ON and continue playing next Wednesday. We will WIN and head for Moscow!
April 23rd, 2008 (19:27)
I think mr allwellatmanutd would need to watch his mouth, and concentrate on his own scumbags who have failed to score an away goal at Barcelona, even failing to score a penalty to clinch a very important away score. We still have our game at chelsea to get our away goal, we have came back from worse situations than this before, remember Istanbul my manc mouthpiece?. How dare this dirty manc come on to our site an try to degrade what is still the most successful club in English history. YNWA. Up the Barcelona!
April 24th, 2008 (00:04)
please reds please.dontuse a player who has not played any big game whole of last season.rafa please play perter crouch with torress in stamfordbridge.we need a goal.thanks.dont ever start riise.he cant use his right at all.and as a footballer u should one day learn with your right.am so dissapointed with him he kept making mistakes when he came on.pleae rafa tell ur boys to put presseure on chelsea hoping for an early goal.also steven try shooting som shots at the 18 area dont always think of passing to toorees.try your self sometimes.please steve gerrerd if u are able to score your self and we qualify i promise u a nice gold watch from ghana.is a promise.do it for me.
April 24th, 2008 (02:19)
liverpool will surprise everyone at stanford bridge.please rafa start peter crouch with torress on top of the attack.gerrrd and mascerno in midfirldmaybe with alonso.put ryan babbel on the left full back.he is a versatile player can play there and overlap as well.please dont put in risse he hs lost confidence now.and also after his chances ou will see what will come out.thanks pogasty.we will win 2 1
April 24th, 2008 (02:30)
Am I the only one who can see how much Reina was at fault for Chelsea’s goal? The ball travelled thirty yards and Reina watched it, it bounced inside the 6 yard box, and the keeper is standing on the line?
He had time to come out and take it; Riise had a striker behind him so he was under pressure; why did Reina just sit on the line?
April 27th, 2008 (10:34)
DEAR JOHN ARNE …. KEEP YOUR CHIN UP , WE NEVER FORGET THE GLORIOUS MOMENTS WHICH YOU’VE GIVEN TO US … WE WON’T FORGET BECAUSE WE ARE LIVERPOOL FANS … THE BEST FANS AROUND THE WORLD
YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE
SHAHEEN FROM IRAN
April 28th, 2008 (07:07)
hey. jus play your traditional 4-2-3-1 with riise more forward in the LB position. liverpool will need all the attacking power they need to breach chelsea’s defence mentality.a tip: let kuyt play first striker this time. he can tackle players with ease-he may just be there to force an error.
April 30th, 2008 (03:40)