UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINALS FIRST LEG: IF FERNANDO Torres is everyone's idea of the complete centre forward, and Steven Gerrard is not only being touted as the best player in the world but one now playing in his most effective position, then it must follow Liverpool possess the most potent attacking force around.
That was the theory anyway. Not for nothing did John Terry admit he was dreading the Anfield leg of this familiar Champions League engagement and with Nicolas Anelka moved back to the bench to accommodate the return of Didier Drogba the visitors had strength up front but hardly the same amount of pace and subtlety.
Of the eight teams left in the Champions League, unless Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney get their act together very quickly indeed, only Barcelona can match the Torres-Gerrard partnership for quickness and cleverness through the centre, though as the Liverpool defence is nowhere near matching the standards being set up front that head-to-head now seems unlikely to take place due.
At least this unexpected result, a powerful advertisement for coaching as performed by Guus Hiddink, was also a thrilling game.
Liverpool attacked from the outset. Barely a minute in Torres won the first corner, putting his foot on the ball while examining his options. Gerrard took the corner and Dirk Kuyt shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area. Chelsea had been warned yet still found themselves behind four minutes later when Torres supplied his usual reliable finish to a low cross from Alvaro Arbeloa.
After missing chances to clear the danger, Chelsea made the mistake of leaving Torres on his own near the penalty spot and paid the price when Arbeloa turned the ball back in.
It was rapidly turning into the Torres show, with Gerrard providing support in a secondary role.
Liverpool were relieved Drogba did not bring Chelsea immediately back into the game in the eighth minute, when the striker seemed surprised to find himself one on one with Pepe Reina, though Terry was anything but surprised to be left on his backside by Torres midway through the first half and grateful Alex was on hand to tidy up. Alex also had to come across to cover when Torres picked Frank Lampard’s pocket on the halfway line and raced towards Petr Cech.
Drogba missed another opportunity on the half hour so it was not an injustice when Chelsea dragged themselves back into the game before the interval, though Liverpool will kick themselves at their inability to deal with two successive corners. Reina missed his punch at the first one, obliging Gerrard to fling himself in the way of Salomon Kalou’s shot to concede the next. It was hardly the hardworking captain’s fault if Liverpool’s real defenders failed to pick up Branislav Ivanovic. Martin Skrtel seemed to stand still and watch as Ivanovic darted in and got his head to the ball.
While Liverpool looked to their deadly duo to bring the crowd back to life in the second half it fell to Jamie Carragher, the third and least lauded of the outfield trinity Terry reverentially named, to come up with the heroics.
At a time when Liverpool were rattled, Carragher prevented Chelsea taking a lead they would have deserved by sliding in to clear Drogba’s shot off the line after the striker had beaten Skrtel and Reina. Gerrard and Torres linked effectively for just about the only time in the game when Torres ran on to his captain’s header and shot a little hastily over the bar.
Anything still seemed possible at that stage, though when Liverpool were again undone at a corner, and again by the same player, boasting the best strike force in the world seemed somewhat hollow, especially as this time Gerrard was guilty of losing Ivanovic. It was made altogether redundant when Malouda crossed for Drogba to score a third just after the hour. Liverpool will do well to come back from the blow to their confidence, never mind the three away goals. Torres and Gerrard will need almost superhuman powers to rescue this situation in the second leg.
Guardian Service
