24) Liverpool 2 - 0 Chelsea Fc

Sat, 20th Jan 2007 The long awaited return of Petr Cech from his fractured skull was offset by Ricardo Carvalho's illness, and a centre-half-less Chelsea struggled from the opening seconds. Carvalho had a heavy temperature overnight. Ferreira was shifted to central defence to partner Essien. Thus, a full-back and a midfielder played against Crouch and Kuyt who were provided with a series of long balls. It took Liverpool just three minutes to score against Chelsea's makeshift defence. Ferreira had been fortunate once when he found himself with his back to the ball but muscled it away. Now when Crouch flicked on he was facing the wrong way again and Kuyt raced across him to have an unchallenged volley from 12 yards which he netted easily. Three minutes later Cech prevented a second when Riise raced inside Gérémi and hit a right-footed shot when one on one with the goalkeeper who dived to his right to make an excellent save. But Liverpool continued to dominate and the second goal came in the 18th minute. Essien headed out an unchallenged Gerrard cross from Crouch with Cole close in attendance and support, which left Pennant unmarked and with time to chest the ball and volley it off the bounce from 25 yards over Cech and in off the bar. A magnificent goal, but Chelsea's non-defence and non-pressing in midfield was all too clear. Robben had been limping since the 10th minute when he fell badly after running into Carragher, and he was replaced after 20 minutes by Wright-Phillips. Now Chelsea were without Terry, Carvalho, Boulahrouz, Bridge, Robben and Joe Cole, all injured, and Makelele suspended. In addition to the patched defence, there were a number of under-par performances ahead of it. But Mikel, playing the Makelele role, was a shining exception, winning the ball, using it intelligently and being physical when he had to be. The first-half was his best 45 minutes to date in a Chelsea shirt. Drogba was Drogba without service. Trying anything, working feverishly, hoping to make something out of nothing. Chelsea had a brighter spell when Alonso was off the pitch getting a cut face treated, but still didn't create anything to test Reina. The second-half was immediately different - a strong wind had blown up and was heading for Cech's goal at the Kop end.

Mikel dropped deeper and deeper to challenge Crouch in the air at all set-plays, and Chelsea's shape was even more stretched. At least Chelsea went forward, however. But one breakdown typified all the problems. Lampard looked for a cross-field pass because there were no other options, Gérémi couldn't be reached in the wind, Riise raced away leaving the full-back stranded, everyone went to him leaving Kuyt free who ran on to Riise's pass, and only another top class intervention from Essien saved the situation. On the hour Riise powered forward and smashed a 30 yarder over Cech and against the bar, a colossal effort, and when Crouch headed the rebound for the corner from six yards Cech easily held on the dive as the centre-forward claimed he had been fouled by Essien. Two minutes later Kuyt, stealing in on the far post behind Cole, volleyed a Riise cross wide from a few yards out. Chelsea were staying alive - just. The nadir came midway through the second-half. Wright-Phillips, who had been lively and one of the better performers, won a free-kick on the edge of the area in the same position from where Drogba scored the winner in the Carling Cup at Newcastle. As then, Ballack and Drogba stood over the ball. The free-kick was delayed, and Ballack looked round at referee Styles and Cole who had just withdrawn a few yards as Drogba slipped him the ball and it went through his legs. As Liverpool attacked again Ferreira fouled Kuyt from behind, was booked for the fifth time in domestic football this season, and he will be suspended for the FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest. With 72 minutes gone, Mourinho looked for the miracle. He sent on Shevchenko for Mikel, switched Wright-Phillips to the right and Mikel to the left, and played 4-2-4. Essien continued to be everywhere. He headed away a free-kick aimed for Crouch with flying ease, he sprinted to tackle Kuyt when Gérémi had played him onside on the opposite side of the pitch, and he prompted attacks. Wright-Phillips got behind Liverpool's defence on a couple of occasions and provided good crosses which Liverpool defended well. But Chelsea were outplayed and easily defeated. For Mourinho, the headache remains the injuries. But the worry will be the form of some of his fit top players. Liverpool move five points behind Chelsea and Chelsea must hope for an Arsenal victory at home to Manchester United tomorrow.

Liverpool (4-4-2) Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio; Pennant, Alonso, Gerrard (c), Riise; Kuyt (Gonzalez 90), Crouch (Bellamy 85). Scorers Kuyt (3), Pennant (17). Chelsea (4-3-3) Cech; Gérémi, Ferreira, Essien, A Cole; Ballack, Mikel (Shevchenko 72), Lampard (c); Kalou, Drogba, Robben (Wright-Phillips 20). Booked Ferreira (69).