[Liverweb] Chelsea CL Report

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Liverweb Match Report

Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Gerrard (C),
Sissoko, Hamann, Riise, Garcia, Crouch

Subs Used : Kewell for Riise (60), Morientes for Crouch (68),
Pongolle for Garcia (80)

Subs Unused : Carson, Josemi, Warnock, Cisse

Att : 41,598

Ref : H.Fandel (Ger)

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The Reds played out a goalless draw at the Bridge which ensured they
finished as group winners. The Reds had very few worries throughout
the game and once again kept yet another clean sheet. The one
massive downside on the game was the horror stamp tackle from
Essien. Quite how anyone could attempt to defend him on that is
unbelievable and I really hope UEFA ban the coward for a few games
as this isn't the first time he's done it.

This match saw the two sides paired up once again but this was
probably the one that saw less hustle and bustle as both sides knew
they were through anyway. Chelsea had desire to win the game but no
real game plan as the Reds stood firm with ease. Anything Chelsea
thought of the Reds were an easy equal to but not to the point of
backs to the walls defending.

The Reds got the game underway and the first minutes were more like
a chess match as the sides felt each other out. Chelsea had a great
opportunity on six minutes to open the scoring as the Reds dithered
in midfield. Garcia lost the ball and Chelsea built but lost the
ball. Finnan played it back to Reina who hit a poor ball up field.
It came straight back from Lampard but Reina was equal to the shot
and pushed the ball out for a corner. The corner took an age to get
cleared but the pressure was off.

The game was played in far more of a European way on the night but
did spark into life every now and again. The Reds defended their
lines right across the pitch and forced Chelsea in to losing easy
ball and getting caught offside. A few of the decisions were
certainly tight but they went our way. The big talking point of the
night came midway through the half. Chelsea were given a free kick
but as the ball fell loosely Essien charged in towards Hamann and
with no intention of getting the ball threw his boot in, studs first
on his knee. The ref seemed the only one not to see the incident
which was a clear Red card. And Chelsea wonder why people hate them
as they cheat like this. Thankfully Hamann got up after a spell of
treatment and was able to play on. Sadly the cheating Chelsea player
was also able to stay on the pitch.

The Reds had their greatest chance of the night on the half hour as
Gerrard played in Riise. A bit like the goal at City a few weeks
back Riise had time to place the shot but this time hit it too
straight and Cech saved with relative ease. On forty three minutes
Chelsea felt aggrieved about a Sissoko challenge on Gudjohnsen. Momo
went for the ball clearly and trying to wrap his foot around it
caught the Icelandic midfielder. It was a clear and fair challenge
but the Chelsea man was riled by it I must say and moments later
still incensed flew in late on Finnan. It brought an end to the half
and the Reds went in more than happy with the current scoreline.

Del Horno came on in the second half for Ferreira. Four minutes into
the half and Chelsea had their best chance of the night. Robben
found himself un marked in the area but blasted his shot into the
side netting of the goal. A big let off for the Reds and if anything
the last great chance they had. The Reds switched Kewell for Riise
on the hour in a more attacking move and later Crouch came off for
Morientes as the Reds continued to play the same way.

Chelsea were clearly having problems with the Reds' play and
eventually took Robben and Duff off for Carlton Cole and Shaun
Wright-Phillips. Both wing men went off having had very little
change out of the Reds. The next two didn't get on much better
although Wright-Phillips did try to run things more. Traore picked
up the first booking of the night as he was very late on Wright-
Phillips and he can have no complaints. A minute later and Lampard
followed him in to the book. He was flagged offside and petulantly
threw the ball down like a spoilt child. Carvalho then went in the
book as he went through the back of Morientes before Pongolle
arrived for Garcia.

After three added minutes though the ref called time and the Reds
were crowned group winners. This means we avoid teams such as Lyon,
Barcelona and AC Milan. It also means we can play at home in the
second leg of the last 16 but the competition now goes to bed till
February. This was a job extremely well done from the men in Red and
yet another clean sheet brings them to within one game of equalling
the club record of ten clean sheets in a row.

MotM : Sami Hyypia - immense at the back reading the game extremely
well. This is exactly the great Hyypia that has been a stalwart for
the Reds for many a year now.

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Match Stats
Chelsea Liverpool
63% Possession 37%
4 Shots On Target 2
5 Shots Off Target 4
1 Blocked Shots 2
3 Corners 1
18 Fouls 17
8 Offsides 0
2 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0

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