Liverpool take point from Chelsea
By John Ley
Sport.Telegraph, 11th February 2008
On an afternoon of missed opportunities for both sides, Liverpool can at
least take solace from their first point away from home against any other
of the Big Four under Rafael Benitez. The Spaniard also reaffirmed his
ability to frustrate Chelsea's ambitions as this draw prevented Avram
Grant's team from moving to within three points of the Premier League
lead.
This was the 18th meeting between these teams in just 3½ years and the
history of a fixture that is turning into an epic of Ben Hur proportions
is one of Benitez piercing Chelsea aspirations. In 2005, Liverpool beat
Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final, knocked that out of the last
four of the FA Cup a year later and last season they did it again in Europe.
This latest result - the fourth goalless draw between these teams in that
period - may not resonate as loudly as those cup exploits but Chelsea
will consider this a missed chance, given the surprise at Old Trafford
earlier in the day. A victory would have put serious pressure on Arsenal
and, particularly, United.
Perhaps it was the frustration of squandered points but rarely have Grant
and Benitez looked so animated. Grant, who carries the air of an undertaker,
became sparky towards the end as he saw his side struggle to threaten
Pepe Reina's goal. Referee Mike Riley even found it necessary to urge the
Israeli to calm down. By then Benitez had worn a path with his touchline
pacing and momentarily exploded, offering his glasses to the fourth
official when Joe Cole appeared to handle.
Grant was still fuming from a first-half incident in which Cole fell under
a challenge by Javier Mascherano, who was outstanding. Riley got it right;
if anything the Argentine was guilty of nothing more than impeding the
winger but a penalty would have been harsh on Liverpool, who remain fifth,
three points off the Champions League place which has now become their
true goal.
Grant said: "I thought in the game it was a penalty, then I looked on the
television it was a 100 per cent penalty, but the only penalty I know is
when the referee gives it. He is a good referee and he made a mistake - it
happens."
Liverpool could have edged closer to Everton had Peter Crouch not squandered
a succession of opportunities. How Benitez must have rued the absence of
Fernando Torres, missing with a hamstring injury following international
duty. Crouch found good positions but on at least two occasions the
England striker had the chance to score and ruin Chelsea's unbeaten
Premier League home record which now stands at 76 games and will pass the
fourth anniversary, on Feb 21, when they next entertain at Stamford Bridge,
against Derby next month.
Such a record needs applauding, as does a return of 21 points from 27 games.
That some Chelsea supporters chose to jeer their team at the whistle is
baffling. With Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and John Terry
to return, the future for Chelsea is bright and both Arsenal and United cannot
afford to rest on their laurels. Had Chelsea won rather than drawn both this
game and the trip to Fratton Park a week earlier, Chelsea would now be just
one point off Arsenal and one better than United.
Afterwards, Grant claimed that Terry is likely to miss the Carling Cup final
in a fortnight by claiming he will be out for three weeks, apparently at odds
with his club captain, who had insisted that he was seven to 10 days away.
However, the return of another stalwart, Frank Lampard, after a 10-game
absence, did not have the impact one would have expected and he made way for
John Obi Mikel after 70 minutes.
Liverpool should have been ahead in the 18th minute when Crouch drew a good
chance off target. Within two minutes Gerrard crossed from the right by-line
and Crouch sent another header straight into Petr Cech's grateful arms.
Crouch sent another chance over before the break, but in a poor second half
both sides laboured. The end provoked brought jeers; if the fans were
complaining about the game as a spectacle, rather than the dropped points,
they could have been forgiven. And the good people of Beijing and Dubai will
hope that the 'international round' of the Premier League does not offer this
pairing in the future.
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