2.5.10  BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 (www.lfc.tv)


Liverpool will be playing Europa League football next season following a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in the final home game of 2009-10.

Goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard consigned the Reds to a rare Anfield defeat which means they can no longer finish in the top four.

A peculiar atmosphere circulated the stadium throughout the match, with fans knowing a Reds win could all but hand Manchester United a record 19th league title.

Victories for City and Spurs on Saturday meant securing a top-four finish was always going to be tough for Liverpool - but while ever Champions League qualification remained mathematically possible, there was no danger of Steven Gerrard and co giving anything less than 100 per cent.

Rafael Benitez made two changes from our 120 midweek minutes against Atletico Madrid, Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Maxi Rodriguez replacing Ryan Babel and the injured Glen Johnson.

It was Maxi who created the first serious chance of the day after just three minutes, winning the corner which resulted in Dirk Kuyt stabbing narrowly wide.

For Chelsea, Florent Malouda and Lampard both failed to test Pepe Reina from distance, and though Nicolas Anelka at least forced a save with his speculative effort, it was all a little too anxious from the Londoners in the early stages.

Alberto Aquilani, starting his third consecutive game for Liverpool, earned nods of appreciation when he provided further proof of what's to come from him in 2010-11 by brushing the crossbar from 25 yards.

Yossi Benayoun and Lucas Leiva were nowhere near as accurate when they took pops at Petr Cech's goal, while Aquilani was outmuscled by Branislav Ivanovic after finding himself with ball at feet in the Chelsea box.

The visitors, then, had offered little when they opened the scoring 33 minutes in after Drogba swooped on a lax back-pass from Gerrard. One touch took the Ivorian round Reina before he tucked into an empty Kop net to send the travelling supporters at the other end of the stadium crazy.

A Chelsea assault followed, with Lampard curling wide from the edge of the box and Anelka being denied by a last-gasp tackle from Kyrgiakos.

Liverpool's cause wasn't helped just before the break when Benitez was forced to introduce Babel for the injured Maxi.

Chelsea screamed for a penalty in first-half injury-time when Salomon Kalou fell over right in front of the Kop, though replays showed the culprit was his own - as opposed to Lucas Leiva's - foot. Kudos, Alan Wiley.

The Chelsea fans didn't have too long to dwell on their dismay, however, for the game - and perhaps the title race - was effectively ended nine minutes after the restart when Frank Lampard capitalised on the fact Jamie Carragher was limping to ghost behind the defence and convert Anelka's cross.

Carragher was replaced minutes later by rookie defender Daniel Ayala as Liverpool's day went from bad to worse.

Babel came close to snatching a goal back before the hour-mark but couldn't keep his volley down after John Terry's error.

The Chelsea fans didn't seem too concerned, busy as they were screaming for Carlo Ancelotti to give them a wave. Their request seemed to get lost in translation, for it took a quiet word from assistant boss Ray Wilkins for the Italian to raise his hand.

Reina had to be smart with his feet to thwart Anelka at the back post after his defenders failed to clear the danger, while a fine fingertip save was required following Malouda's precise effort from distance.

The Spanish stopper was again called into action by Anelka with 10 minutes remaining. He could only parry the French striker's 20-yard blast, but showed lightning quick reflexes to collect the rebound before Kalou.

The day ended with Benitez and his players showing their appreciation for the support they have received this season by circling the pitch.

The moment was also significant for Carlsberg, whose logo will never again appear on a Liverpool jersey at Anfield. The brewer decided to mark the end of its 18-year shirt deal by displaying its name in Chinese - a nod to our marvellous support in Asia.

 

Teams:

Liverpool: Reina, Mascherano, Kyrgiakos, Carragher (Ayala 57), Agger, Gerrard, Lucas, Maxi (Babel 42), Aquilani (Ngog 77), Benayoun, Kuyt.

Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Degen, El Zhar, Pacheco.
Booked: Mascherano.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Malouda, Kalou (Zhirkov 88), Drogba, Anelka (Joe Cole 90).

Subs Not Used: Hilario, Paulo Ferreira, Deco, Sturridge, Belletti.
Booked: Malouda, Ballack.
Goals: Drogba 33, Lampard 54.

Att: 44,375
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).