Champions League Semi Final, 1st Leg. Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 Result
Chelsea: Cech, Johnson, Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Gallas, Tiago (Robben 58), Makelele, Lampard, Gudjohnsen, Drogba, Cole (booked, Kezman 77). Unused subs: Cudicini, Smertin, Geremi, Forssell, Huth.
Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan, Hyypia, Traore, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard, Alonso (booked), Biscan (booked, Kewell 86), Luis Garcia (Smicer 92), Baros (Cisse 65). Unused subs: Carson, Kewell, Le Tallec, Nunez, Warnock.
Chelsea failed to score against Liverpool for the first time this season. This was the fourth meeting between the two clubs. Liverpool have been beaten twice and drawn twice at the end of 90 minutes. Liverpool played well – they did survive a few scares but ultimately took control of the game, and could have actually nicked it in the end.
Full Time – Final Score Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0.
92 mins – Substitution – Vladimir Smicer replaces Luis Garcia
86 mins – Yellow Card – Xabi Alonso (foul) – misses next game
86 mins – Substitution – Harry Kewell replaces Igor Biscan
78 mins – Yellow Card – Kezman (foul)
77 mins – Substitution – Kezman replaces Joe Cole
65 mins – Substitution – Djibril Cisse replaces Milan Baros
58 mins – Substitution – Robben replaces Tiago.
58 mins – Yellow Card – Joe Cole (foul)
56 mins – Yellow Card – Igor Biscan (dissent)
Second-half kicks off.
Liverpool have played a more attacking game than had been predicted, and overall it’s been quite a close game. Although Liverpool have looked dangerous from time to time, they’ve been lacking the type of striker suited to a one-up-front style of play. Baros did force an excellent save from Petr Cech though. At the other end Chelsea have had many chances, but somehow the ball has stayed out of the goal. Critics of Steven Gerrard have been many this season – they’ll be hard pressed to find fault with the player in this game. Still very difficult to predict the outcome of tonight’s match.
0:00 Chelsea Kick Off.
Chelsea are without Damien Duff as was widely predicted.
Rafa Benitez has gone for a 4-5-1 formation, with Biscan joining
Alsonso and Gerrard centrally in midfield. Riise and Garcia will take
the wide roles, with Milan Baros starting up-front alone. The back four
consists of Carragher and Hyypia in the centre with Traore and Finnan
as full-backs. There is also a possibility (although unlikely) that
Benitez will go for the unsuccessful three centre-backs formation, by
moving Riise to full back and putting Traore at centre-back. There’s
also the option of 4-4-2, with Gerrard playing wide-right and Garcia
joining Baros at the front.
Benitez has gambled on the two not-fully-fit players Kewell and Cisse
on the bench, but with the luxury of seven subs in Europe the gamble is
not as great – early injuries don’t mean he has to throw players in who
aren’t fully fit.