Liverpool's Steven Gerrard scores from the penalty spot against Athletico Madrid during their Champions League, Group D, soccer match at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008. AP Photo/Paul Thomas
For the fifth consecutive European season, Liverpool and Chelsea meet one another when they line up at Anfield Thursday morning Australian time. The latest chapter in their UEFA Champions League rivalry promises to be as thrilling as the previous encounters.
When the Champions League draw was made over a fortnight ago, the odds were that, with the big four EPL squads in the quarterfinal draw, there would be at least one all-English match up.
Murphy’s Law dictated it would be Liverpool and Chelsea. Again!
The rivalry between the two clubs isn’t a traditional one. There is more venom for Liverpool in playing Manchester United, for example, with more historical and cultural division, while Chelsea has plenty of local London rivals to keep them busy.
But the recent run of European match-ups has given ties between Liverpool and Chelsea extra spice.
The first of the five consecutive meetings in Europe set the scene for the drama and controversy that would follow over the following years when a goal by Liverpool’s Luis Garcia’s, or as then Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho called it, a “ghost goal,” decided the tie.
Despite last season’s defeat in the semi final, albeit decided in extra time of the second leg, Liverpool are the bookies’ favourites, assisted no doubt by their much improved fortunes in the EPL relative to the past few seasons when, at this stage of the season, their concentration had turned to Europe as they found themselves lamenting another domestic league capitulation.
Now they are engaged in a mighty struggle at home. Chelsea are only three points shy of the Reds in the EPL.
But Liverpool’s big game players are in better form than their Chelsea counterparts.
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are the twin towers of Liverpool, but this season they have been ably supported by the supporting cast.
Liverpool have already done the double over Chelsea in the Premier League this season, but face a Guus Hiddink lead Chelsea for the first time. This adds an extra element of uncertainty to the tie.
The tactical battle between Hiddink and Rafael Benitez will be fascinating, in addition to the midfield battles with world-class players such as Gerrard, Lampard and Ballack.
Liverpool’s favouritism is slightly negated by the fact the second leg is at Stamford Bridge, and the recent return of Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien, not to mention the form of Didier Drogba, who sealed Liverpool’s fate in last season’s second leg extra time drama.
The focus may be on Liverpool, but don’t underestimate the hunger of Chelsea.
If Liverpool fans are starved for EPL success, Chelsea, fans and players, are equally desperate for European success, especially after last season’s agonising final defeat in penalties to Manchester United in Moscow.
Great rivalries are built on history and Liverpool and Chelsea have plenty of that.
You feel another great chapter will be added in the next fortnight.
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April 9th 2009 @ 11:59am
Kazama said | April 9th 2009 @ 11:59am | Report comment
Fantastic result, and well deserved. Same story as when the Pool crashed out to Benfica in 2006 – they excel at putting other teams under pressure, but when the tables are turned they crack. Chelsea totally outplayed them this morning and barring a disaster we will face another evil team we have history with in the semis.
Essien was the man of the match IMO. He dominated the midfield, keeping Stevie G quiet while setting up plenty of moves. Great game from a great player. Terry isn’t as big a loss as some might think. He didn’t have a particularly good game this morning and we have plenty of capable replacements. As long as we defend better than we did for Torres’ goal we should be fine.
The Golden Guus rolls on.
April 9th 2009 @ 2:16pm
Marlon said | April 9th 2009 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
Chelsea were amazing, as a Juventus fan I hope they go on and win it so we can say we were beaten by the eventual champs. Liverpool will need the performance of their lives to comeback from this position.
But Barca look so good. If Man U are knocked out the semi final clash between Barca and Chelsea may become the default final.