Match Centre

By Darshan Joshi, writing in Sydney

It may be stretching the truth a little had I begun this by saying that there was only one team on the field, but it wouldn’t be a lie either. There was one moment during the match when it seemed as though Liverpool weren’t in grotesquely severe control of the match – Dimitar Berbatov lashed a half-volley, so curvaceous it may have made this month’s Playboy centrefold, beyond Pepe Reina, but, alas! All it did was shake the frame of the Spaniard’s goalmouth. And then there was a silence. Liverpool’s defensive third remained untouched for a long, long period, like a virgin resolutely set on prolonging its spell of abstinence. The picture is painted clearer than a van Gogh masterpiece when you notice the possession statistics: the Devils with 58% of the ball, yet, this very ball remained in United’s half for the majority of the match. And when United did get their goal, oh, if only there wasn’t a period of ninety minutes before then!

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By Ainsley Jacobs, London

Liverpool would have stepped out onto the Stamford Bridge pitch with something to prove today. A point or two to prove to against the doubters who expected their recent winning streak to come to an end but also a point to prove to a certain former striker who decided to swap Merseyside for London. As Chelsea fans unveiled their El Nino banners which incidentally looked remarkably like the old Liverpool ones, the men in red were out to prove that there is life after Torres and on the evidence of this performance, their once Spanish matador will be quickly forgotten.

In a bold move, Carlo Ancelotti decided to employ all three of his strikers from the start, with Anelka playing behind the front two meaning Florent Malouda missed out. In contrast, Liverpool continued with the three centre backs that served them well against Stoke with Jamie Carragher returning from injury to replace Kyrgiakos. This system allowed both Kelly and Johnson to play to their strengths by getting forward and giving Liverpool much needed width with only three in midfield and Kuyt playing as a lone striker.

After a cagey opening it was Chelsea who had the first opportunity when Rodriguez inexplicably passed the ball to Torres. Chelsea supporters held their breath, only for the Spaniard to balloon his effort over the bar. Liverpool then began to take control of the game with a passing fluidity that has marked their recent performance under Dalglish. They managed to survive a major scare midway through the first half when Drogba’s throughball let Torres through on goal only for the excellent Jamie Carragher to block his effort. However, Bosingwa’s increasing forward forays were leaving Chelsea exposed on the left hand side and Liverpool began to exploit this more and more as the half went on. After good work from Johnson and Gerrard on the left, the Liverpool captain’s ball across the box evaded the Chelsea back line, falling to Rodriguez only for the Argentine to miraculously hit the crossbar from five yards out. Liverpool fans must have been wondering whether they would pay for that miss yet their organised team play and tireless work rate meant Chelsea found it increasingly difficult to break them down. Torres was beginning to show the same poor body language that he displayed at Liverpool but that was in no small part to a resolute defensive display from the reds not afraid to show a bit of brute force when necessary with an Agger forearm to Torres’s throat, much to the delight of the travelling reds supporters.

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By Amy Quinn, writing from Dublin

Giant killings are a common story in all walks of footballing life. Few football clubs can say, with conviction, that they have never fallen foul of the ambition and drive that lower-ranked teams can often bring to the fore. Liverpool are no exception, with memorable FA cup exits to the likes of Barnsley and just last year, Reading, and with the spectacular banishment from the Carling Cup just two weeks ago at the hands of Northampton Town barely forgotten. It’s strange, however, that all of this pales in comparison to a desperate defeat in Liverpool’s own back yard yesterday afternoon against Ian Holloway’s Blackpool. The Seasiders now find themselves four points ahead of Liverpool in the Premiership (begging the question, are Liverpool now the underdogs?), and previously seen as relegation fodder, the shoe is now on the other foot for the struggling Reds.

It was particularly telling that late that Sunday, as Liverpool sunk to their lowest point in recent memory, the Kop erupted with chants of “Dalglish!” - referring, of course, to the former Liverpool player and manager, and current Academy director, Kenny Dalglish, who was present at Anfield yesterday with fellow legend Ian Rush, as he is every week. Surely not a pleasant experience for Liverpool’s manager, Roy Hodgson, who has come under fire from all corners of the team’s fanbase, but it represented something crucial. Liverpool fans have forged loving relationships with so many players and leaders down the years. Having adapted to so many different managerial styles, it is surprising that any approach would jar so horribly with the club as Roy’s has so far, but there’s an explanation for that.

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