Luck Finally Running Out For Liverpool?
Isn’t irony great?
Having squeezed past us without actually scoring a goal in 2005, lady luck turned the tables in style last night as we also failed to score and yet come away from Anfield with an away goal.
A typical Liverpool v Chelsea encounter without too much to get excited about, particularly during a first half which saw us unsurprisingly outplayed. No more surprising then, when Liverpool took the lead through Kuyt just before the break. A marginally better second half saw Petr Cech back to doing what he does best, almost single-handedly keeping us in the tie until Riise offered a helping head.
What worried me about the game was the way we played – nothing new there then! Drogba, couldn’t be less involved in games these days unless he’s sitting on the bench, although the return of that sniper really hasn’t helped him. Lampard’s mind was clearly anywhere but Anfield and with Makelele looking jaded and Essien absent, Ballack didn’t do too bad a job of covering the midfield on his own. A quiet Joe Cole was replaced by the all-too-fragile Kalou – a phrase you definitely wouldn’t use to describe Terry who seemed intent on putting at least one shoulder out of its socket last night. And I’m not even going to start on Malouda! Overall though, I think it’s fair to say it’s a good job Riise scored because we were never going to.
From a management point of view, Grant, again looked more than a little clueless as the game got away from us. The substitutions might not have done us any harm but even on a quiet day, for me, Joe Cole is more likely to create opportunities than Kalou. And five minutes at the end for Anelka when we’re looking for a goal – pointless – particularly when it means taking off the only midfielder who’s put in a performance on the night. But, things went our way in the end, giving Grant another chance to try to convince the press he’d known what he was doing all along, even having the audacity to claim “I think we deserved it”.
Benitez apparently didn’t agree, blaming time added on and a biased ref as opposed to the positioning of Riise’s head for the result. But his post-match whinge will have made little impression on anyone given some of the decisions responsible for their place in the semi to start with.
What goes around comes around eh?
Filed under: Europe, Match report
for the nth time you blues need to seriuosly get over the 2005. And stop moaning about it cause you got away lightly. if the goal wasnt given a penalty would have been given like the referee stated after the game and your best player cech would have been sent off. Would you have liked to be a man down and concede a penalty with 80 mins of the match to play. get real.. youll sound stupid when you moan about the goal that was apparently never was.. just like your ex manager who used to talk like an idiot
Stuff happens in football. No point in crying over spilt milk. But if I was you i’d leave the smug comments until after the next game. Your bound to win now surely? You’ve only got to turn up.
The reality is that every single one of these cup games between Chelsea and Liverpool have been undecided until the final whistle has blown. If your at 0-0 or even winning by the odd goal with half an hour to go the pressure will be unbelievable…one mistake and your out. We’ve got the players to make that happen. I hate people who dive and I hate people who whinge and i’m not naming any player or manager. What the fates have in store next week can hinge on one split second just like the game yesterday. I hope we get the breaks this time.
Vivek, did Rafa sound any better moaning about a couple of seconds or whatever it was? Manager’s look for reasons to explain how games they really should have won got away from them, its just a bit rich when Liverpool start blaming probably their closest allies. And Norman, Im not really sure how a pretty honest appraisal of the game is smug. Truth a bit painful maybe?
Yeah but when is Chelsea’s luck gonna stop???
Liverpool were very lucky to beat Arsenal - but that just means Chelsea were lucky not to have to face Arsenal who would’ve outpassed and outclassed them all over the field (before you start about the 2-1, Drogba was offside at 1-0 down) And look at Chelsea’s recent own goals from innocuous crosses. It’s unbelievable. Teams sometimes get a goal like that every couple of seasons - Chelsea have scored 3 in the last month!!!
It’s a tragedy for football that dire, negative teams like Chelsea and Liverpool are even in the semi-finals of the Champions Lge.
Chelsea fans never fail to illustrate perfectly their complete lack of knowledge of the beautiful game. Not surprising really considering 90% of them have only been intersted in football since Roman saved them from oblivion. If Garcias goal hadnt been given, it would have been a penalty anyway. The referee confirmed this after the game. So please chavs, get over the fact that we have done you in 2 Champions League Semi Finals and an FA Cup semi-final in the last 3 years. I do actually think that you will finish the job off at the Bridge but then Man United will destroy you in the final anyway.
Pete, maybe the tragedy is that pretty football alone doesn’t necessarily win trophies?
Trader….not that old chestnut…”90% of them have only been intersted in football since Roman saved them from oblivion” that’s as old and dull as our two managers combined. IF we finish the job - and thats a big IF, I agree even luck wouldnt see us past Utd though.
Hahaha good for Lpool, got lucky the other day againts Arsenal..now pay the price!
How does it feel when the luck is not at your sides?
Hope Chelsea trash you mugs in Bridge and the refs that supported your club in CL feel stupid!
Have to agree with much of your article and I admire your honesty in relation to your teams performance and Drogba`s showing in particular. What is he like? The man is A battering ram and A great footballer,but does he really need all the diving and rolling about? I was embarrassed for him and i`m A red,so I can only imagine how you`s must feel? I do feel that we are still very much in the game and can score at the bridge,as i`ve seen very little from Chelsea,to put fear into my heart. Chelsea,are A shadow of the team of two years ago and we coped very well with your long ball game,so it`s all to play for at the bridge. Sure hope Grant,plays Essien at right back ! Good luck against the mancs and we`ll see you`s all next week! YNWA
Trader (Roman saved them from oblivion) you fool. I hope your memory is not too short but if we were in oblivion when abramovich came, where were Liverpoo. We had just slaped your team 2-0 to take our place in champions league and leave your team to lick your wounds.
For as long as i have been watching the game, Chelsea have been a pretty good team. Remember, no team in england has a better record against manu then CFC. SUCK ON THIS
every team gets their share of luck. it’s just that for some (read liverpool) the share is quite bigger than the rest. if not for luck arsenal would not have made it to the final in 05-06.
good blog btw!
Pretty much summed up our performance, except that I think Kalou deserves some credit and to give praise where it is due.
Peter Cech was excellent, but the man that really deserves the praise as far as I am concerned is Ricky. He has been immense when he has played and I think should take some of the credit for helping Alex settle in to the EPL so quickly.
Rob - totally agree about Ricky, he’s shown himself to be our best CD. My only concern is the good relationship he had with Jose, I just hope he stays.