UK Football

photo: Aleksandr Mysyakin

What a spectacular match.  It wasn’t the best football we’ve ever seen played, but my god did it have plenty of heart.  I remember before the match thinking there’s no way Liverpool even have a chance, considering they would have to score three goals without allowing any from Chelsea to outright win the match on aggregate.  And then boom, I was completely shocked when Cech’s uncharacteristically horrible keeping allowed Aurelio to score in the 19th minute, and then not ten minutes later Alonso delivers from Liverpool’s penalty award.

For a moment there Chelsea looked set to give up a 4-0 match, as has become a characteristic result for Liverpool this season.  Especially with Chelsea looking shaken and broken in their defending, showing just how much Chelsea captain John Terry means to the squad.  Nobody looked confident in that back four, Cole, Alex, Carvalho and Ivanovic all looked like amateurs from the youth squad that had been forced into the starting eleven.

And I don’t think anybody out there saw a way out for Chelsea until Drogba found the back of the net in the 52nd minute, showing us all that the Ivorian still has plenty of Premiership life left in him.  Quickly followed by a superb strike from Alex in the 57th minute, and Chelsea had all but put away the match when Lampard walked in an easy but well earned close range effort off a Drogba cross in the 76th minute.  Making practically everyone believe that Chelsea had put the match away, until once again Liverpool came back on their counter attack to score two late goals by Lucas and Kuyt in the final ten minutes of full time.  Leaving us with a tense and cagey few minutes until Frank Lampard took it upon himself to save the day with a strike that bounced off both posts before heading into the net in the 89th minute.

And like that a 4-4 thriller was over, and despite a courageous performance, Liverpool were sent tumbling out of the Champions League.

But no doubt the pressure is on United doubly strong now, as in their Champions League campaign United face FC Porto today in Portugal, and no English side have beaten Porto in Portugal, and United have to win to advance after a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.  Now the defending champs will also have to continue fending off a Liverpool side with only one trophy left to play for, the Prem.  

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