From the moment that Dirk Kuyt broke 42 minutes of monotony until the dying throes of stoppage time, it looked as though Liverpool and Chelsea would both happily recommence next Wednesday’s Champions’ League semi-final at Stamford Bridge with the Reds holding a slender 1-0 lead. That was until John Arne Riise’s blunder unwittingly swung the tie in favour of Avram Grant’s side.
For those expecting to be entertained, the signs were ominous – three goals in 570 minutes over six painful matches between these teams in recent European campaigns. The torture continued during a first half in which neither side was able to construct any flowing passing movements due to an overly congested midfield area. One wonders what Joe Cole, undoubtedly one of England’s most technically gifted players, makes of having to regularly endure this battleground which so often robs him of the ability to express his natural talents. When a flitting chance to shine presented itself, Cole fluffed his lines by trying to convert Frank Lampard’s deep cross with an outstretched leg. Use of the head would surely have brought greater rewards.
Lampard was otherwise anonymous during that first period; an accusation frequently levelled at him during big matches. As is often the case with England, he was joined in obscurity by Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, as the destructive forces of Javier Mascherano and Claude Makelele took effect. Brief spurts of finesse were provided by Michael Ballack, so often overlooked by those infatuated with the supposed golden generation of home-grown stars, but the German would also be relegated to the fringes for most of the evening.
Ashley Cole is another victim of the current system employed by Chelsea. So often at Arsenal the left-back received plaudits for his attacking instincts and support play. This former hallmark of his game has been all but been browbeaten out of him, and rarely was he seen progressing beyond the halfway line. With Florent Malouda continually ineffective ahead of Cole on the left flank, the majority of Chelsea’s forward options rest entirely on the theatrics of Didier Drogba. Though 6’ 2” and over 14 stone, Drogba’s legs are made from marshmallow. He gesticulated for a penalty midway through the first half after pushing the ball ahead of Jamie Carragher, leaning into the Liverpool defender and then throwing himself to the turf. Konrad Plautz, the Austrian referee, was rightly unimpressed.
When Kuyt finally broke the deadlock, his goal owed more to brute strength and good fortune than any creativity. Seizing onto Mascherano’s woefully miscued shot, he did well to hold off a challenge by Makelele before firing low under the advancing Petr Cech.
Liverpool became more adventurous after the interval as they chased the security of a second goal to take to London for the return leg, but remained mindful of keeping the back door firmly closed. Ballack and Joe Cole were sacrificed as Avram Grant looked to grab a vital away goal. Though much maligned, the Chelsea manager silenced many critics during last month’s victory over Arsenal which pushed the Blues firmly back into the title race. That success owed more to dogged persistence, the long-ball tactic and sprinklings of luck than any inspired tactical nous. Grant was again a lucky man last night thanks to Riise’s late aberration.
Grant claimed afterwards that Chelsea were deserving of the equaliser; a flimsy, desperate claim matching his statement from last week that his dour team also deserves the Premier League title. He was correct in stating that they now hold the edge, especially in light of Liverpool’s recent goal drought at Stamford Bridge, but it is hard to envisage Chelsea reaching the final courtesy of an entertaining performance where the shackles placed firmly around their attacking potential are discarded.
Seventeen years have passed since Red Star Belgrade served up a putrid, unambitious display to thwart a thriving Marseille team in Bari’s Stadio San Nicola. One hopes that the eyes of the viewing millions will not be subjected to a similar display in Moscow in four weeks, but the threat level is rising.
For those expecting to be entertained, the signs were ominous – three goals in 570 minutes over six painful matches between these teams in recent European campaigns. The torture continued during a first half in which neither side was able to construct any flowing passing movements due to an overly congested midfield area. One wonders what Joe Cole, undoubtedly one of England’s most technically gifted players, makes of having to regularly endure this battleground which so often robs him of the ability to express his natural talents. When a flitting chance to shine presented itself, Cole fluffed his lines by trying to convert Frank Lampard’s deep cross with an outstretched leg. Use of the head would surely have brought greater rewards.
Lampard was otherwise anonymous during that first period; an accusation frequently levelled at him during big matches. As is often the case with England, he was joined in obscurity by Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, as the destructive forces of Javier Mascherano and Claude Makelele took effect. Brief spurts of finesse were provided by Michael Ballack, so often overlooked by those infatuated with the supposed golden generation of home-grown stars, but the German would also be relegated to the fringes for most of the evening.
Ashley Cole is another victim of the current system employed by Chelsea. So often at Arsenal the left-back received plaudits for his attacking instincts and support play. This former hallmark of his game has been all but been browbeaten out of him, and rarely was he seen progressing beyond the halfway line. With Florent Malouda continually ineffective ahead of Cole on the left flank, the majority of Chelsea’s forward options rest entirely on the theatrics of Didier Drogba. Though 6’ 2” and over 14 stone, Drogba’s legs are made from marshmallow. He gesticulated for a penalty midway through the first half after pushing the ball ahead of Jamie Carragher, leaning into the Liverpool defender and then throwing himself to the turf. Konrad Plautz, the Austrian referee, was rightly unimpressed.
When Kuyt finally broke the deadlock, his goal owed more to brute strength and good fortune than any creativity. Seizing onto Mascherano’s woefully miscued shot, he did well to hold off a challenge by Makelele before firing low under the advancing Petr Cech.
Liverpool became more adventurous after the interval as they chased the security of a second goal to take to London for the return leg, but remained mindful of keeping the back door firmly closed. Ballack and Joe Cole were sacrificed as Avram Grant looked to grab a vital away goal. Though much maligned, the Chelsea manager silenced many critics during last month’s victory over Arsenal which pushed the Blues firmly back into the title race. That success owed more to dogged persistence, the long-ball tactic and sprinklings of luck than any inspired tactical nous. Grant was again a lucky man last night thanks to Riise’s late aberration.
Grant claimed afterwards that Chelsea were deserving of the equaliser; a flimsy, desperate claim matching his statement from last week that his dour team also deserves the Premier League title. He was correct in stating that they now hold the edge, especially in light of Liverpool’s recent goal drought at Stamford Bridge, but it is hard to envisage Chelsea reaching the final courtesy of an entertaining performance where the shackles placed firmly around their attacking potential are discarded.
Seventeen years have passed since Red Star Belgrade served up a putrid, unambitious display to thwart a thriving Marseille team in Bari’s Stadio San Nicola. One hopes that the eyes of the viewing millions will not be subjected to a similar display in Moscow in four weeks, but the threat level is rising.
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