De Ja Vu Liverpool vs Chelsea Discussion

Football Genius wrote:I think this game for the fans doesn't hold quite the same intensity it did in 2005, however for both Managers the game holds more importance that 2005.

Benitez was new to the club and to win a Champions League was fabulously unexpected, now we are in the semi's again our expectations have risen, and we now have a real expectation to win, proving this to the new board will be as important to offer collateral in what they are investing.

Morinho it appears, will lose his job if he doesn't win the quadrouple or at the very least the Champions League and Premiership.

I imagine this to be a cracking game. But in total contrast to the one a few years ago.

Ye agree, don't forget though for Liverpool fans this is the only thing left in our season

I think Makalele will start the first leg, don't ya think that makes sense??

Why is Diarra at RB, what happened to P Ferreira??

Ballack wrote:

S4P2 wrote:1st leg:

Cech

Diarra Carvalho Terry A Cole

Mikel

Ballack Lampard

J Cole

Drogba Shevchenko

2nd leg:

Cech

Diarra Carvalho Terry A Cole

Mikel

Essien Lampard

Ballack

Drogba Shevchenko

I reckon Essien'll be right back in the first leg.

Liverpool 1-4 Chelsea

Chelsea strengthened their stranglehold on the Premiership in impressive style, with a crushing victory at Liverpool.

Frank Lampard gave Chelsea the lead in the 27th minute from the spot after Djimi Traore fouled Didier Drogba.

Steven Gerrard levelled quickly for Liverpool but Damien Duff put Chelsea back in front from eight yards before the interval after good work by Drogba.

Drogba was crucial as Chelsea cruised after the break, creating close-range goals for Joe Cole and Geremi.

It leaves Chelsea nine points clear at the Premiership summit and 17 ahead of Liverpool - a stark statistic for Reds boss Rafael Benitez to accept after their worst start in 13 seasons.

Chelsea drafted in Asier del Horno and Cole from the side that played in the Champions League draw at Anfield on Wednesday, while Liverpool replaced Djibril Cisse with John Arne Riise.

Liverpool had three penalty appeals rejected in the European tie - so it was with some irony that Chelsea took the lead from the spot.

Traore was badly at fault, striking a clearance against Drogba before needlessly hacking down the striker.

Lampard's spot-kick was perilously close to Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina but it just crept under his body.

The Chelsea midfield man's celebrations were over-exuberant in front of The Kop and led to a yellow card from referee Graham Poll.

Liverpool responded with fierce commitment and quality - and they deservedly drew level through Gerrard nine minutes later.

Riise's corner was flicked on by Jamie Carragher for Gerrard, who almost joined Chelsea in the summer, to fire a powerful, angled finish past Petr Cech.

But Chelsea showed the resolve of champions to regain the lead with a sweeping move two minutes before the interval.
Drogba produced a clever trick to escape the desperately ponderous Sami Hyypia and he pulled the ball back for Duff to beat Reina from eight yards.

Hyypia almost had another nightmare moment just after the interval when his poor headed clearance landed at the feet of Drogba but he shot tamely at Reina.

Chelsea extended their lead after 63 minutes - and, once again, Drogba was involved.

He broke clear and when he shot across the face of goal, Cole was perfectly placed to tap into an empty net.

It was Cole's final contribution as Mourinho made an instant change, sending on Arjen Robben for the goalscorer.

Liverpool were not lying down, however, and Riise was only narrowly off-target before Peter Crouch brilliantly controlled a long ball on his chest - only to waste the chance he had created for himself.

Chelsea were in ruthless mood and they added a fourth with eight minutes left, Drogba escaping from a corner before his cross was missed by Robben and turned in by Geremi at the far post.

Liverpool dented Chelsea's Premiership title challenge in impressive style.

Dirk Kuyt took advantage of Peter Crouch's touch to put the skids under injury-hit Chelsea after three minutes.

Jermaine Pennant's brilliant dipping volley effectively sealed the points for Liverpool after 17 minutes in boss Rafa Benitez's 100th league game.

Chelsea staged a minor recovery after the break, but Liverpool could have added a third as John Arne Riise struck the bar with a long-range drive.

The defeat leaves Chelsea six points behind Manchester United - who visit Arsenal on Sunday - and puts Liverpool only five points behind Jose Mourinho's troubled champions.

Chelsea were able to recall keeper Petr Cech after three months out with a serious skull fracture, but suffered a blow after it was revealed defender Ricardo Carvalho was out after being taken ill overnight.

John Terry was still sidelined with a back inury, and with Claude Makelele suspended, Liverpool's furious opening salvo was predictable.

And it reaped a reward after only three minutes when the makeshift central defensive partnership of Paulo Ferreira and Michael Essien was ruthlessly exposed.

Jamie Carragher's long ball was touched on by Crouch, and Kuyt eased his way past Ferreira to side-foot a composed finish past Cech.

And the Czech keeper demonstrated his value to Chelsea three minutes later with a brilliant block from Riise.

But Chelsea, a shambles from the start, did not survive for long and Pennant doubled Liverpool's lead in spectacular fashion.

Pennant, who has struggled to make an impact since his summer move from Birmingham City, took aim as the ball sat up perfectly and sent a stunning dipping volley beyond the outstretched arm of Cech.

Chelsea's day got worse after 20 minutes, when Arjen Robben - who had twisted his ankle in an earlier challenge - limped off to be replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Liverpool were comfortably in command throughout the rest of the half, and despite faint signs of a Chelsea recovery in the early stages of the second period, it was Benitez's side who looked more likely to add to their lead.

Crouch headed tamely at Cech when he should have done better, and he was slow to react when a Riise thunderbolt rattled back off the bar on the hour.

Despite Chelsea's struggles, it still took Mourinho until 17 minutes from time to introduce £30m misfit Andriy Shevchenko at the expense of the anonymous Mikel Jon Obi.

It was too late to make an impact and Liverpool took the points their performance richly deserved.

Luis wrote:

Steven Gerrard sent a text message to Jose Mourinho saying he would be joining Chelsea hours after England crashed out of Euro 2004, it was revealed today.

The midfielder had a dramatic last-minute change of heart over moving to Chelsea after threats were understood to have been made to his family by furious Liverpool fans.

But, as recently as last Thursday, Gerrard was so keen to move down south that he personally got in contact with new Chelsea manager Mourinho to accelerate the transfer.

S4P2 wrote:Steven Gerrard sent a text message to Jose Mourinho saying he would be joining Chelsea hours after England crashed out of Euro 2004, it was revealed today.

The midfielder had a dramatic last-minute change of heart over moving to Chelsea after threats were understood to have been made to his family by furious Liverpool fans.

But, as recently as last Thursday, Gerrard was so keen to move down south that he personally got in contact with new Chelsea manager Mourinho to accelerate the transfer.

Where's that from?

Being a neutral Chelsea have this one all they way and if Liverpool win the round I will believe there is something really magic about the reds...

Luis wrote:

S4P2 wrote:Steven Gerrard sent a text message to Jose Mourinho saying he would be joining Chelsea hours after England crashed out of Euro 2004, it was revealed today.

The midfielder had a dramatic last-minute change of heart over moving to Chelsea after threats were understood to have been made to his family by furious Liverpool fans.

But, as recently as last Thursday, Gerrard was so keen to move down south that he personally got in contact with new Chelsea manager Mourinho to accelerate the transfer.

Where's that from?

Found it on an article on yahoo search. Not sure how reliable it is, but I remember watching a few Pool fans burning Gerrard shirts outside Anfield on Sky Sports News.

Ye..a few scally idiots burnt an England top with Gerrard on the back

Nedved?

Eidur?

Target Man wrote:Nedved?

Eidur?

2005.

anyone??? My fantasy team is at stake here!!

bluenine wrote:I think Makalele will start the first leg, don't ya think that makes sense??

Why is Diarra at RB, what happened to P Ferreira??

Ballack wrote:

S4P2 wrote:1st leg:

Cech

Diarra Carvalho Terry A Cole

Mikel

Ballack Lampard

J Cole

Drogba Shevchenko

2nd leg:

Cech

Diarra Carvalho Terry A Cole

Mikel

Essien Lampard

Ballack

Drogba Shevchenko

I reckon Essien'll be right back in the first leg.

Ferreira won't play. It'd be criminal to play him against a physical side like Liverpool.

As for Maka, check the Newcastle game. If Maka plays against Newcastle, he won't play against Pool. If he does play, he won't play against Pool (and right now I'd chose Mikel over Maka)

bluenine wrote:anyone??? My fantasy team is at stake here!!

bluenine wrote:I think Makalele will start the first leg, don't ya think that makes sense??

Why is Diarra at RB, what happened to P Ferreira??

Ballack wrote:

S4P2 wrote:1st leg:

Cech

Diarra Carvalho Terry A Cole

Mikel

Ballack Lampard

J Cole

Drogba Shevchenko

2nd leg:

Cech

Diarra Carvalho Terry A Cole

Mikel

Essien Lampard

Ballack

Drogba Shevchenko

I reckon Essien'll be right back in the first leg.

Ferriera does not really play much for us in important games, so i think your fantasy team is fucked with him in it!

S4P2 wrote:

broke that sob's ankle as well