The Times
October 27, 2008
Luiz Felipe Scolari rues the end of home rule with defeat to LiverpoolChelsea 0 Liverpool 1
Matt Hughes
Luiz Felipe Scolari has been so successful in making Chelsea loved again that even neutrals have enjoyed watching them this season – perhaps for the first time since Gianluca Vialli’s free-flowing side were winning cup competitions almost a decade ago – but he was not supposed to make them popular with their opponents too. The Brazilian may want to consult the fine print of his contract.
“It has not finished the world,” Scolari said of this defeat in his endearingly erratic English, even if this country’s footballing landscape does look slightly different this morning.
Given the adventurous way that they now play, it is difficult to see another 86 league matches elapsing until Chelsea are beaten again in their own stadium, which must be a galling thought for the players, many of whom have not known defeat while wearing a blue shirt. John Terry and Frank Lampard are the only survivors from Chelsea’s previous home league defeat – a 2-1 loss to Arsène Wenger’s Invincible Arsenal in February 2004, dated even more by the presence of Neil Sullivan in the home goal.
Rafael BenÍtez, the Liverpool manager, deserves immense credit for devising a game plan that will secure him a small place in the history books, and even more so for his uncharacteristic willingness to disclose it afterwards. The statistics show that it was no fluke either, as BenÍtez’s record of six wins and six draws from 21 matches against Chelsea is better than that of any other manager during the same period.
“Chelsea have full backs going forward all of the time, but we demonstrated you can go forward and create something,” BenÍtez said. “They will have problems behind their defenders because they go forward all the time.”
Liverpool were able to turn Chelsea’s greatest strength into their weakness, with Albert Riera and Dirk Kuyt pushing José Bosingwa and Ashley Cole farther back than they have been all season and creating space for Steven Gerrard to roam behind Robbie Keane.
It helped that in Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso, Liverpool possess the securest sentries in the Premier League – how Arsenal could do with just one of them – and they succeeded in keeping Lampard and Deco unusually subdued. It almost goes without saying that Jamie Carragher was a rock at the back, making one incredible tackle on Deco in the 76th minute when José Manuel Reina was exposed.
BenÍtez’s other salient comment was one of his simplest – “I prefer to score first” – with Alonso’s tenth-minute goal setting the tone for the entire game. Álvaro Arbeloa’s throw-in was flicked on by Kuyt, with Terry’s header falling to Alonso, who beat Petr Cech from 20 yards with the aid of a deflection off Bosingwa.
Chelsea chased the game with little success, and for all their neat passing in midfield, Reina remained untroubled. Other than commanding his area at crosses, the Spain goalkeeper was not required to make a save of note, although he would have been relieved to see Ashley Cole volley wide from close range in the 73rd minute after Franco Di Santo, the substitute, had headed down a great ball from Lampard. Liverpool could have extended their lead, though, with Alonso hitting the foot of the post with a superb free kick and Ryan Babel shooting narrowly wide after a great turn on the edge of the area.
Scolari conceded that Chelsea had been toothless in the final third, but failed to highlight the obvious cause. Nicolas Anelka was anonymous, providing further evidence that he lacks the spirit for a true fight, as well as the ability to lead the line on his own. Didier Drogba’s return from injury cannot come soon enough, while, given their lack of options on the bench, Peter Kenyon’s comments last week about Chelsea not making any signings in January look premature. Reinforcements are required.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): P Cech 6 J Bosingwa 6 R Carvalho 6 J Terry 6 A Cole 5 J Obi Mikel 7 S Kalou 5 Deco 5 F Lampard 6 F Malouda 4 N Anelka 4 Substitutes S Sinclair (for Boswinga, 85min), F Di Santo 6 (for Kalou, 58), J Belletti (for Malouda, 58). Not used C Cudicini, B Ivanovic, P Ferreira, Alex. Next: Hull City (a)
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): J Reina 6 A Arbeloa 6 J Carragher 8 D Agger 7 F Aurélio 6 J Mascherano 7 Xabi Alonso 8 D Kuyt 7 S Gerrard 7 A Reira 7 R Keane 6 Substitutes R Babel (for Keane. 60min 6) Lucas Leiva (for Kuyt, 88), S Hyypia (for Reira, 90). Not used D Cavalieri, A Dossena, Y Benayoun, J Pennant. Next: Portsmouth (h)
Referee H Webb Attendance 41,705
Chelsea v Liverpool in numbers
86 Chelsea’s unbeaten home league run, which ended yesterday
63 Previous longest undefeated home league run, by Liverpool, 1978-81
3 Changes of Chelsea manager since last home league defeat by Arsenal in February 2004
14 Chelsea away league defeats during their unbeaten home sequence
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Telegraph:
Liverpool end Chelsea's four-year run at Stamford Bridge and top the Premier League
Chelsea (0) 0 Liverpool (1) 1 By Henry Winter at Stamford Bridge
For Chelsea, the clocks went back more than an hour, rewinding four years to a time when they last endured the ignominy of defeat at home. For Liverpool, the clocks went back even further, reviving memories of the 1989-1990 season that climaxed in their last title.
This was only one small step in a marathon season, but it felt like a giant stride. Liverpool will believe in their Premier League mission, in their ability to find fruit on awkward soil. Liverpool will know they can seize an early lead, as through the outstanding Xabi Alonso here, and possess the strength of mind and body to resist the opposition.
All sorts of numbers were mentioned here from the 86 games that Chelsea had been unbeaten in their King’s Road fortress, dating back to an Arsenal victory on February 21 2004, to the 48 hours that had elapsed since Luiz Felipe Scolari suggested his team could match Arsenal’s Invincibles and go through the season undefeated.
Names mattered more than numbers. This was a momentous victory for Liverpool carved from the defiance of Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger in thwarting Chelsea’s attackers, to the relentless blocking and tackling of Javier Mascherano and Alonso in midfield and on to the dynamism of Steven Gerrard and Albert Riera in taking the game to Scolari’s defence.
Liverpool were all heart, lungs and flying feet but the key factor was the mind of Benitez. The Spaniard’s tactics were inspired, his game-plan squeezing the life out of Chelsea’s feared spheres of influence. Liverpool doubled up on Chelsea’s usually buccaneering full-backs. Riera, a winger with work-rate, and Fabio Aurelio kept ushering Jose Bosingwa down cul de sacs. Over on the right, Dirk Kuyt and Alvaro Arbeloa stymied Ashley Cole.
In the centre, Liverpool’s 4-2-3-1 formation allowed Gerrard licence to break forward in support of Robbie Keane, knowing that Alonso and Mascherano were on determined sentry duty. Gerrard was also perfectly placed to disrupt Chelsea’s supply convoys masterminded by John Obi Mikel.
Missing Didier Drogba and Joe Cole, Chelsea struggled on the high and low road towards Pepe Reina’s area. Robinho’s hat-trick for Manchester City will have sent rueful thoughts spinning through Chelsea minds. But Liverpool could also mention absent friends, notably Fernando Torres.
For all the understandable focus on Harry Redknapp, this was comfortably the game of the day, of the season even. For the hundreds of millions tuning in worldwide, Chelsea and Liverpool laid on a spectacle not persistently high on technical expression but always compelling.
The fixture has rarely lacked edge. On the terraces, familiar taunts were traded. Chelsea fans mused loudly that their guests had no jobs, prompting Liverpool supporters to retort that their hosts had no European Cups. The competitive fray was swiftly seen on the field, Alonso flying into Frank Lampard with a force that spoke of past meetings as well as present collisions.
Despite a surface made treacherous by the rain, touches of class arose, a reverse pass from Lampard here, a clever flick from Gerrard there. When Liverpool’s captain won a throw-in on the right after 10 minutes, the stage was set for the game’s decisive moment.
When Arbeloa launched the ball into the box, John Terry was most alive to the danger, meeting the throw with a stretching header that clipped Bosingwa and fell invitingly to Alonso, lurking unmarked and dangerous 20 yards out. The Spaniard caught the ball well enough but its journey past Petr Cech required a deviation. Catching Bosingwa en route, Alonso’s shot eluded the wrong-footed Cech.
As Liverpool fans celebrated, as their midfield dominated, Chelsea sought crumbs of comfort such as when Mikel pushed Gerrard into the crowd. Revenge was swift, the Englishman nutmegging the Nigerian. Liverpool would not be bullied, particularly not Riera, blessed with a wonderful left foot and a hunger for life amidst the flying studs.
If Bosingwa suffers a recurring nightmare over the next month it will involve a deft Spaniard ghosting past him. Riera utterly bemused Bosingwa at one point, racing on and shooting just wide. Liverpool remained in ascendancy, Gerrard letting fly with a left-footed strike that Cech did brilliantly to push over. Riera then went round Bosingwa again. Once more, and he would have got to keep him.
Chelsea were stunned, urgently needing leadership. The captain, John Terry, began to bark orders, particularly at Florent Malouda. The usual creative forces, Deco and Lampard, started to show. Lampard briefly escaped the large shadow cast by Gerrard to unleash one of his long-range specials, deflected wide. Then came Deco, exploiting a lapse in control by Gerrard, storming forward but also firing off-target.
With Deco and Lampard more involved, Chelsea finished the first half strongly, knocking long and loud on Liverpool’s back-door but Carragher and Agger stood firm. Some of Liverpool’s tackling was immense, timed to perfection, so it was hugely frustrating when a magnificent challenge by Gerrard on Bosingwa drew a ludicrous caution from Webb.
England’s top referee, the only official deemed good enough for consideration for the 2010 World Cup, misread Gerrard’s intent and was deceived by Bosingwa’s histrionics. The full-back rolled around, knowing that Gerrard, having won the ball fairly, was free to race into untended space. Football must be never be allowed to descend into rollerball, but similarly it must never become non-contact. It’s not ballet.
Chelsea lacked invention, and the closest they came to an equaliser was when Kuyt’s penalty-box push on Ashley Cole went unpunished by Webb. Cole’s habit of moaning again hardly endeared himself to the officials. Occasionally booed by Liverpool fans, Cole also suffered the indignity of his huge poster being defaced outside the Bridge club shop.
Liverpool almost killed off Chelsea midway through the half. When Juliano Belletti kicked Riera in the face, Chelsea’s six-man wall was left redundant as Alonso’s free-kick sped past and thudded into the post with Cech stationary.
When Cole hooked a shot wide, smiles began taking shape on Liverpool faces. At the final whistle, Sammy Lee, that symbol of passion for the red cause, punched the air, Liverpool’s No 2 disappearing under a rare bear-hug from Benitez. Unlike the clocks, Liverpool know they have to keep going forward, keeping their focus if they are to claim the championship again.
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Independent:
Liverpool storm the Bridge
Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1
By Glenn Moore
The last time Chelsea lost at home the day's other significant result was Leeds United winning a point at Old Trafford. In the wider world Barack Obama was still hoping to win the Illinois Democratic nomination to run for a seat in the US Senate.
Much has happened in the subsequent four years, eight months and six days but until Howard Webb blew the final whistle yesterday no club had taken three league points from Stamford Bridge. Liverpool required a scappy goal to do so, Xabi Alonso's ninth-minute shot deflecting past Petr Cech off Jose Bosingwa, but they thoroughly deserved to be the first league winners here in 87 matches.
It was an outstanding performance by a Liverpool team lacking Fernando Torres and Martin Skrtel, one that suggests they are, at last, genuine championship contenders. Alonso also struck a post and Steven Gerrard drew a fine save from Cech as Liverpool played the better football and created the clearer chances.
Not until the 72nd-minute did Chelsea seriously threaten and even then Pepe Reina was not extended. The result moves Liverpool three points clear ahead of Chelsea and Hull City – who had lost at home to Torquay in the bottom division the day Chelsea lost 2-1 to Arsenal at the Bridge in February 2004. On Wednesday Chelsea go to Hull, while Liverpool host now managerless Portsmouth.
This result was a triumph for Rafael Benitez, who won the tactical battle hands-down. Chelsea were given no space to operate their midfield passing triangles and their attacking full-backs were neutered by Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera. With Ashley Cole, Bosingwa and Deco suffocated Chelsea lacked creativity. As a consequence they went route one. Had Didier Drogba been leading the line this may have brought reward, but the Ivorian is injured, as is Joe Cole, whose imagination was equally missed.
Scolari began with his usual formation and expected personnel but Liverpool, with Gerrard operating behind Robbie Keane, and Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano forming a screen in central midfield, made the sharper start. This brought early reward as Kuyt headed on Alvaro Arbeloa's throw-in. John Terry headed the ball out but Bosingwa miskicked a clearance and the ball fell to Xabi Alonso. On his weaker left foot the Spaniard sent the ball off Bosingwa and into the net.
Chelsea have been behind surprisingly often in the previous 86 matches but always recovered. This time they rarely looked like doing so. With Gerrard and Keane taking turns to drop back and prevent John Obi Mikel dictating play, Chelsea could not get into any kind of rhythm.
Liverpool, with slightly less possession, continued to make the better chances with the excellent Riera striking the side netting and Cech making an athletic save to turn over Gerrard's dipping volley. In response, Deco, finding rare space, wasted it by shooting wide when he could have fed in Florent Malouda or Salomon Kalou.
Liverpool did have an escape 10 minutes into the second period when Malouda ran on to an Anelka flick only to be clattered by Reina. A penalty and red card loomed, until a linesman's flag was spotted correctly indicating offside. It was a good day all-round for the officials. Webb did not get every call right – Bosingwa conned him into booking Gerrard – but most decisions were correct in a match which required all the experience he gained as a beat officer managing testosterone-fuelled young men enjoying a Friday night out in Sheffield city centre. It was a performance which made one wonder whether the Football Association's refereeing recruitment programme should target the police and military.
By the hour Scolari had changed tack, bringing on the gangly teenager Franco Di Santo and moving to 4-4-2. In reality it was 3-4-3 with Ashley Cole playing in attack. Cole soon put a header wide, then a volley from Di Santo's knock-down as Chelsea finally opened Liverpool up. In between, though, Alonso struck the post from a 30-yard free-kick with Cech motionless. Finally Juliano Belletti played the pass of the match to release Deco, but he delayed and Jamie Carragher blocked.
That was characteristic of Liverpool's desire. Chelsea matched them for effort, but not for poise and nous in what was a very good match. This weekend Michel Platini, the Uefa president, suggested England could not win the World Cup because the Premier League had too many foreigners. But there were more Englishmen than there were players of any other nationality honing their talent here, in a game of greater quality than most Champions League fixtures.
Goal: Alonso (9) 0-1.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa (Sinclair, 84), Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Deco, Mikel, Lampard; Kalou (Di Santo, 57), Anelka, Malouda (Belletti, 57). Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Ivanovic, Ferreira, Alex.
Liverpool (4-4-1-1): Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio; Kuyt (Lucas, 87), Alonso, Mascherano, Reira (Hyypia, 89); Gerrard; Keane (Babel, 59). Substitutes not used: Cavalieri (gk), Dossena, Benayoun, Pennant.
Referee: H Webb (S Yorks).
Booked: Chelsea: Malouda, Cole, Deco. Liverpool: Reira, Gerrard, Mascherano.
Man of the match: Gerrard.
Attendance: 41,705.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Guardian
Liverpool have the hallmark of title winners Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1 Alonso 10
Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge An heirloom can become so fragile over time that each new generation inherits it with mounting trepidation. Perhaps they wish secretly that it were not their responsibility. Luiz Felipe Scolari is now the man who happened to be in charge when Chelsea's magnificent run of 86 matches without defeat at home in the Premier League ended.
Victory for Liverpool was fully deserved, as is their place at the top of the table. Whatever Chelsea make of the outcome, the visitors gave another indication that they may become champions of England for the first time since 1990. This piece of evidence clicks into place beside the comeback against Manchester United at Anfield last month.
This game made fewer demands. The margin of victory might have been wider, Rafael Benítez's side almost doubling their lead in the 62nd minute when Xabi Alonso's free-kick cannoned off a post.
This is no time for Chelsea to give thanks, but Ashley Cole ought to be relieved that he did not receive a second caution from the referee, Howard Webb, for a foul on the substitute Ryan Babel. The left-back was to suffer nonetheless, scything wide a knockdown from the substitute Franco Di Santo after 73 minutes. Otherwise Chelsea lacked menace. Javier Mascherano embodied the excellence of a Liverpool midfield that both parried and made sharp thrusts of its own.
They merited a sleeker goal, although the winner is in no danger of being disowned. In the 10th minute Alvaro Arbeloa's throw-in was headed on by the remarkably industrious Dirk Kuyt and into the path of Alonso. The Spaniard's shot from the edge of the area broke off Jose Bosingwa to wrong-foot Petr Cech.
This was Liverpool's first Premier League goal at this stadium under Benítez. That must be viewed as more than an accident. Some will remain doubtful whether there is the quality in depth to tide the club over in a long campaign fought on several fronts, but the injury to a key performer, in Fernando Torres, has not undone them. It was their opponents who were limited here.
Despite the early goal leaving great stretches of time for recovery, no momentum was achieved by Chelsea. They have been counting on the movement and passing in midfield that shreds the opposition, but Liverpool are about as well equipped as a side can be to counter that approach. Scolari has no alternative method to unsettle the opposition. With Nicolas Anelka as the one experienced forward available at present, defenders are not apprehensive.
Chelsea have cut loose in this campaign against teams who were incapable of halting their build-up play, but in fixtures of this calibre Scolari will suffer from time to time if there are no credible alternatives in attack. The Brazilian is reduced to offering estimates as to the recovery time Didier Drogba will need after knee and ankle problems; after this defeat it was put at 10 days. In truth, outsiders are still to be persuaded that he will ever be in perfect condition again. It should be borne in mind that his total in the last Premier League campaign was a modest eight goals.
Chelsea's chief executive, Peter Kenyon, recently ruled out signings in January, saying: "There isn't any need." Scolari had better hope this is merely a negotiating tactic rather than a deeply held belief. They may have cut loose on several occasions but higher-order rivals understand how to check them. A defeat such as this could have been foreseen last month when it took Salomon Kalou's 80th-minute leveller to prevent Manchester United from making off with full points.
If there is any marginal benefit for Chelsea in the wake of these events, it may be that they will be spared some of the attention that is habitually trained upon them, whereas Liverpool can prepare for a more intense scrutiny.
Incrementally, the Anfield squad has been upgraded and, for instance, the arrival of Albert Riera on the left of midfield has improved the balance. Moreover, the established strengths are intact. When Deco did burrow deep into the penalty area after 76 minutes, the block challenge from Jamie Carragher was characteristically resolute.
Benítez, for his part, is no novice in occasions of this sort. Scolari shoved John Terry into attack as time petered out, but Liverpool countered by bringing on an extra centre-back in Sami Hyypia. If Liverpool are viewed as real contenders for the title, though, they will have to deal with the expectations heaped upon them and a rising intensity in the challenge they meet each weekend.
For Scolari there is an irony to be considered. The unbeaten sequence spanned the reigns of Claudio Ranieri, who was in command when Arsenal won a league game here on February 21 2004, Jose Mourinho and Avram Grant. Scolari has been more admired by neutrals than any of them because of the elegant football he demands. Yet the record has ended on his watch.
Regardless of concerns about the forward line, this manager is bound to start again without compromising a vision that will be to his credit and that of Chelsea.
Man of the match Javier Mascherano
He typified the concentration and strength of the visiting midfielders as Chelsea were either stopped or outplayed
Best moment The tackle that stopped a promising surge by the substitute Juliano Belletti
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Mail:
Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1: Rafa's Reds blows the bridge and booms out a title warningBy Matt Barlow
Somehow it was inevitable that Rafa Benitez would not be far away when Chelsea’s long unbeaten home run finally came to an end.Eighty-six times since February 2004, teams have arrived at Stamford Bridge filled with trepidation and 86 times they have left with perhaps a point or, more often, nothing to show for their efforts.On Sunday, thanks to one Benitez masterplan and a deflected Xabi Alonso shot, Liverpool cut the run dead.
With it, they eased clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League and identified themselves as serious contenders for their first League title since 1990.But this result was worth more than a mere three points to Liverpool.
It provided a mighty lungful of self-belief that they are equipped to go the distance.It also forced Luiz Felipe Scolari to swallow his first defeat in English football and planted a tiny seed of doubt at the heart of one of their fiercest rivals for that prize.Is this defeat the price of flair?
By abandoning the caution of Jose Mourinho and Avram Grant and embracing dashing dare, has Scolari made Chelsea mortal at the Bridge once more?
Just at the time he was lured into a conversation about being ‘invincible’ and completing a whole season without defeat.For Benitez, the result underlines his tactical acumen when his contract situation is wriggling on to the agenda.
The Spaniard is less than two years from the end of his deal and clearly irritated there is no sign of an improved one on the table.
His point has now been made.
The timing could not have been better.This was the 21st time Benitez had locked horns with Chelsea in four-and-a-bit years on Merseyside.It was his sixth win, although only his second in the League.
The others came in two Champions League semi-finals, an FA Cup semi-final and a Community Shield.Without the rapier thrust of Fernando Torres, Benitez resisted the temptation to sit back and defend in numbers.
Instead, he came out with virtually four strikers to press Chelsea back.Robbie Keane played in the traditional centre forward role, supported by Steven Gerrard, with wide men Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera looking to exploit the spaces left by Scolari’s raiding full backs.Kuyt and Riera were outstanding — strong, aggressive and willing as they pressurised Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole.
These duels on the flanks were the key.
With Alonso and Javier Mascherano snapping away in the centre, Chelsea were always hurried and never settled into their rhythm.Early movement from those supporting Keane created the goal in the 10th minute, although there was luck involved.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s throw was flicked on by Kuyt and John Terry’s clearing header fell to Alonso on the edge of the box.
His shot hit Bosingwa on the chest and wrong-footed Petr Cech.It was the first goal conceded by Chelsea in six games and, despite long spells of possession, Scolari’s team rarely created a clear chance.Salomon Kalou and Deco might have done better in the first half but Cech made a flying fingertip save to stop Gerrard extending the lead with a 30-yard screamer.Unable to release their full backs to operate as auxiliary wingers, Chelsea soon fell into the trap of launching long diagonal passes at Nicolas Anelka or trying to knit intricate patterns through a cluttered centre.
Liverpool centre backs Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger dealt impressively with both forms of attack.Scolari made changes just before the hour but injuries meant his bench did not provide the range of options you could expect from such an expensive squad.
On went South Americans Franco di Santo and Juliano Belletti and Chelsea pressed, but rarely did they breakthrough to Pepe Reina.Only Cole really saw the whites of the goalkeeper’s eyes, 17 minutes from time.
Di Santo nodded a ball into his path but England’s left back panicked, shot too early and sliced it wide.
Moments later, Carragher produced a superb block to thwart Deco.Reina did not have a save to make but he was brave under the aerial assault.
The Liverpool keeper punched effectively and stood up to Terry when the Chelsea skipper tried to soften him up.Terry had rescued his team against Roma on Wednesday but there were no heroics this time.As Chelsea took more risks, Liverpool looked dangerous on the break with substitute Ryan Babel sent on to use his blistering pace.Alonso thumped a free-kick against the foot of the post with Cech frozen to the spot and Babel went close with a ferocious shot.Liverpool players ripped off their shirts and pumped the air at the final whistle.
Their fans sang about being top of the League.
Benitez and Scolari exchanged a handshake.That man Benitez again.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech 6; Bosingwa 5 (Sinclair 85min), Carvalho 6, Terry 6, A Cole5; Lampard 6, Mikel 6, Deco 5; Kalou 4 (DiSanto 58, 5), Anelka 4, Malouda 5 (Belletti58, 5). Booked: Malouda, A Cole, Deco.
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Reina 7; Arbeloa 7,Carragher 9, Agger 8, Aurelio 7; Mascherano 6, Alonso 7; Kuyt 8 (Lucas 88),Gerrard 7, Riera 8 (Hyypia 90); Keane 6 (Babel 60). Booked: Riera, Gerrard,Mascherano.
Man of the match: Jamie Carragher.Referee: Howard Webb.
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Sun:
Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1
By STEVEN HOWARD at Stamford Bridge RAFA BENITEZ’S glowing tribute to his team was halted briefly yesterday as a fire alarm went off in the Chelsea press room.
It was quickly stopped but not before alarm bells started ringing round the Premier League that perhaps this could be the season Liverpool end their 19-year quest for the title.
For the termination of Chelsea’s 86-match unbeaten League run at Stamford Bridge was no fluke.
Liverpool may have arrived in West London with a desperate record of just one win in 16 at the Bridge since the Premier League started. But you would never have guessed such was the confident way they went about their business.
Benitez’s side was superior to Chelsea in every department, conceding nothing at the back and tearing great holes in the once impenetrable Chelsea defence.
In the end, a 3-0 victory would not have flattered them against a Chelsea side who managed just one effort on target — and that no more than a tame Frank Lampard header with just eight minutes to go.
Benitez talked afterwards of what a massive message this was to Liverpool’s title rivals on a weekend where Manchester United also dropped points at Everton.
He spoke proudly of his team’s commitment and character and how they could now go to any stadium and get a result.
Sure, there may have been only one goal in it and yet they won with so much to spare you wondered just how Chelsea had remained unbeaten for so long. The Blues, in fact, had not lost at home since goals from Patrick Vieira and Edu gave Arsenal a 2-1 victory on February 21, 2004.
A lot has changed in the intervening years.
Leeds United, who drew 1-1 at Old Trafford on the same day, are now in League One. Hull, beaten at home by Torquay in League Two, are now level on 20 points with Chelsea and just three adrift of the new outright leaders.
The one thing that hasn’t altered is the hope that springs eternal in the breast of every Liverpool fan that, surely, this is the year the team bring the title back to Anfield for the first time since 1990.
Outstanding
Well, if they go on playing like this there is no reason why it shouldn’t be.
Except, of course, the inconsistency that has haunted Liverpool down the years. The inconsistency that saw Wigan twice lead at Anfield only last weekend, the inconsistency that will follow them to the last kick of the last match.
Much will be made of the fact Chelsea were without heavyweights Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Didier Drogba.
Yet that was also the case at Middlesbrough last week and Chelsea had no trouble in thrashing Gareth Southgate’s side 5-0.
In fact, it was suggested Chelsea played with a far greater attacking swagger when Drogba was not in the side. Yet if there was one player they missed yesterday it was their muscular Ivorian striker.
Suddenly an attacking three of Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou looked lightweight, making little or no progress against a resolute Liverpool defence in which Jamie Carragher was outstanding.
Not that Chelsea helped themselves. Luiz Felipe Scolari talked afterwards of how it was difficult to break down an eight-man Liverpool defence that threw a suffocating blanket over his team’s attacking ideas.
But that failed to take into account the tremendous pace and aggression with which Liverpool launched some devastating counter-attacks.
It also failed to acknowledge the seeming inability of either Malouda or Kalou to get their crosses beyond the first defender. Time and again balls were hit against covering
Liverpool bodies or high into an area where Carragher and Daniel Agger were dominant.
In the end, a dispirited Anelka was — not for the first time in his career — reduced to scavenging for morsels down the left touchline.
Someone else might call it hiding.
There were no such problems with Liverpool. Rarely have they looked up for such a game at the Bridge, though they had a slice of luck for their 10th-minute goal from Xabi Alonso.
The Spaniard’s effort would surely have been covered by Petr Cech only for the Chelsea keeper to be wrongfooted when Alonso’s shot took a deflection off Jose Bosingwa.
Cech then kept the Blues in the game with a magnificent tip-over from a Steven Gerrard 25-yarder as Liverpool continued to offer the real threat in front of goal.
The second half was more of the same with Alonso only denied a second when his 61st-minute free-kick rebounded off the foot of Cech’s left upright.
Chelsea’s one chance to salvage both their record and a draw came when young Franco Di Santo, on for Kalou, headed perfectly into Ashley Cole’s path.
The moment called for a calm head and controlled finish. Cole, instead, sliced wildly into the jubilant Liverpool fans behind Pepe Reina’s goal.
And that was about it. Never has such a distinguished record been extinguished with less fuss.
Last Friday, Scolari had spoken of Chelsea being the best team he had ever managed. How they had passion, professionalism and the perfect squad.
Four years may be a long time in football. But so, it appears, is two days.
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Mirror:
Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool: Xabi Alonso ends Stamford Bridge record to usher in a new era By Oliver Holt 27/10/2008
All the old certainties of life are abandoning us.
House prices have stopped going up, Australia can’t win cricket matches and Gordon Brown’s started to look happy.
To top it all off, the safest bank in football went bump yesterday when Chelsea lost a league game at home.
For the first time in more than four and a half years, the Stamford Bridge crowd saw their invincibles vanquished in the Premier League.
For the first time in 86 matches, the first time since Arsenal left here with a win on February 21, 2004, they had to endure the strange taste of defeat.
It made it worse that it was Liverpool who beat them. The same Liverpool who twice broke Chelsea hearts in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
And the same Liverpool who are now appear on the verge of fashioning their first significant challenge for the title for two decades.
Their fans danced and bounced like maniacs in their corner of the ground when the final whistle went and they leapfrogged Chelsea at the top of the table.
They baited Chelsea supporters with their favourite taunt about how ’you ain’t got no history’ even as they ripped one precious strand of that history away from them.
And they headed back to Merseyside knowing that they had outplayed their hosts even without their leading striker, the injured Fernando Torres.
So now that the record so keenly cherished and fiercely protected by Jose Mourinho has gone, the question is whether this match held a deeper significance.
Chelsea should be able to shrug it off as easily as their manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, who said a defeat was a defeat wherever it was played.
Lost points were lost points, Scolari shrugged. "I say sorry to the fans," the Brazil boss added, "but my players did their best."
Scolari and Chelsea can also take heart from the fact that they were missing crucial players like Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Joe Cole.
The physical presence of Drogba was particularly sorely missed yesterday against a Liverpool central defensive partnership of Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger who dealt with everything that was thrown at them with great courage and authority.
The fact that Chelsea were pumping long balls into the box in the first place, though, was a sign that the home team had run out of ideas.
That was a tribute to a Liverpool side who provided the perfect away performance, full of poise and assurance, rock solid at the back, dangerous on the break and underpinned by a formidable amount of hard work.
Chelsea will move back into the mix when they start to get their injured players back but they may still find it hard to dislodge Liverpool from the Premier League summit.
It is the first time we have been able to say that for many, many years. Even in the best times under Gerard Houllier, Liverpool never quite looked like they had the depth or the quality to last the course.
But now they do. They were superb as they dismantled Chelsea’s record yesterday, anchored by brilliant performances from Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in the heart of midfield.
They also appear to have gained an extra dimension, maybe even the final piece in the jigsaw, with the arrival of Spanish wide player, Albert Riera.
Riera, who appears to have had a brain transplant since he played at Manchester City, was outstanding against Chelsea right back Jose Bosingwa.
He has perfected a technique of seeming to lose the ball and then recovering it and wriggling past his man. His delivery from the left was consistently good.
Steven Gerrard was excellent as always, full backs Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arbeloa were neat and clever and Dirk Kuyt did everything he could to keep Ashley Cole occupied.
On the solitary occasion when Cole did get free, he wasted Chelsea’s best chance to salvage a draw, snatching at a left-foot half volley after a good nod down from Franco di Santo.
Liverpool deserved their win, though. They had taken the lead in the 10th minute when Alonso’s shot deflected off the chest of Bosingwa and left Cech helpless.
Chelsea tried as best they could to force their way back into the game but Deco was quiet and Lampard ran into the brick wall built by Alonso and Mascherano.
Liverpool might have won the game more comfortably and Alonso crashed a free kick against the base of Cech’s left hand post early in the second half.
Scolari grew more and more frustrated with his side’s readiness to lump long balls high into the Liverpool box.
And even though Rafa Benitez became increasingly animated on the touchline, Cole’s miss was their only moment of real vulnerability.
Benitez, who has constructed this Liverpool side so patiently and so lovingly, was already thinking about his team’s next match against Portsmouth a few minutes after the final whistle.
"If we are going to keep this mentality and this momentum," he said, "we need another three points in our next match. We want to stay at the top of the table for a long time."
Scolari did not seem unduly dismayed by becoming the manager who lost the most famous unbeaten record in football.
"The players are sad," he said, "but the war isn’t over. It’s just one game.".
Chelsea: Cech 6, Bosingwa 5, Carvalho 6, Terry 7, Cole 7, Mikel 6, Deco 5(Sinclair 5), Lampard 7, Malouda 5(Belletti 6), Kalou 5(Di Santo 6), Anelka 6.
Liverpool: Reina 7, Arbeloa 7, Carragher 8, Agger 8, Aurelio 7, Kuyt 7(Lucas 6), Alonso 8, Mascherano 8, Riera 7(Hyypia 7), Gerrard 7, Keane 6(Babel 7).
Hero: Alonso - ran the match. Villain: Deco - couldn’t step up when team needed him.
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Express:
BENITEZ THE TERMINATOR
By Tony Banks Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1
IT HAS happened before and it will no doubt happen again. There Chelsea are, tootling along without a care in the world, bowling over all and sundry with their lovely, winning football. And then along comes Rafa Benitez.
He did it to Jose Mourinho, to the Special One’s fury, he did it to Claudio Ranieri, he very nearly did it to poor old Avram Grant and now he has done it to Luiz Felipe Scolari …stopped their teams in their tracks and completely upset the seemingly unstoppable applecart.
No one has the measure of Chelsea quite like Benitez. The Spaniard’s tactical wizardry all too often explodes in his face, especially in domestic games, but not against the men from Stamford Bridge.
Twice he has ended their hopes at the semi-final stage of the Champions League, once turfed them out of the FA Cup, several times frustrated them in the Premier League.
Yesterday in the driving rain at Stamford Bridge, Benitez wrote his name in the record books as he ended the longest unbeaten home league run in English football. Eighty-six games, four years and three managers had gone by since Chelsea last went down on their own turf – on February 21, 2004, when Arsenal won 2-1.
But thanks to Xabi Alonso’s deflected shot yesterday, Benitez confirmed Liverpool’s status as genuine title challengers this season. Not since 1990 have they lifted the trophy, but this win gave them their best start to a Premier League season – and their manager’s first away victory in the league against another top-four team. Of course, it had to come against Chelsea.
Benitez has been grumbling lately that with just two years of his contract left he has heard nothing from the Anfield hierarchy about talks on a new deal. Six weeks ago his team, once again without Fernando Torres, beat Manchester United at Anfield. Now they have beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. His pounding on the boardroom door will surely soon become difficult to ignore.
As for Chelsea? The end of an era. Even Grant never lost at home in the league.
This was a pale shadow of the Chelsea side that have been so imperious lately, sweeping aside Aston Villa and Middlesbrough and overcoming Roma. This time they met a team meticulously prepared as ever by Benitez, packed full of players able to hurt them – and most importantly full of players who at last look as if they are beginning to believe.
Under Scolari, this type of defeat was always more likely to happen to Chelsea. Not for him the locking up of a game in the steely fashion of Mourinho, or the grim caution of Grant. The Brazilian goes for it in a big way. When it works it is glorious and the plaudits flow. When it fails, it is because it has become a victim of its own romance.
The procession has been stopped. The remorseless winning machine with a smile has been derailed. And now Hull await on Wednesday.
In truth, Chelsea looked out of sorts from the off. Even though Deco had an early shot blocked, they were too frantic, too rushed, too sloppy.
The goal was typical. John Terry’s headed clearance was a poor one. It dropped to Alonso on the edge of the area and his volley deflected off Jose Bosingwa to leave Petr Cech helpless.
The troublesome Albert Reira hit the side-netting, but Liverpool went even closer as Steven Gerrard picked up Dirk Kuyt’s flick-on and cracked a dipping 35-yard drive that Cech showed quick reflexes to tip over.
Chelsea created very few clear-cut chances as Liverpool throttled the life out of the game in midfield. Too often Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou ran into blind alleys and even when Gerrard lost the ball, Deco fired wide.
Liverpool were always menacing on the break and they should have wrapped up the points when Alonso fired in a free-kick from the edge of the area. With Cech an onlooker, Chelsea breathed again as the ball cannoned off the foot of a post.
It was then, ironically, that they created their best chance. Frank Lampard chipped the ball in, Franco Di Santo nodded down, but Ashley Cole, alone eight yards out, somehow skewed his shot high and wide.
Jamie Carragher’s usual diligence foiled Deco as the Portugal midfielder broke through again and Chelsea wilted. They knew this was not their day.
The proper title race is officially open. The full list of runners has been declared.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech 7; Bosingwa 7 (Sinclair 87), Carvalho 7, Terry 6, A Cole 6; Deco 6, Mikel 7, Lampard 6; Kalou 6 (Belletti 59, 6), Anelka 6, Malouda 6 (Di Santo 59, 6). Booked: Malouda, A Cole, Deco.
Liverpool (4-5-1): Reina 7; Arbeloa 7, Carragher 7, Agger 7, Aurelio 7; Kuyt 7 (Lucas 89), Gerrard 7, Mascherano 7, Alonso 8, Riera 7 (Hyypia 90); Keane 6 (Babel 60, 6). Booked: Arbeloa, Gerrard, Mascherano. Goal: Alonso 10.
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
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Star:
ALONSO LEADS REDS TO VICTORY
By Nicola McCafferty for dailystar.co.uk
Chelsea - 0 Liverpool - 1
Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten home league record was smashed today as Xabi Alonso's first-half goal sent Liverpool three points clear at the top of the table.
Alonso struck in the ninth minute when his 20-yard shot deflected off Jose Bosingwa and left Petr Cech wrong-footed.
It was Chelsea’s first defeat under new boss Luiz Felipe Scolari but Liverpool held the reins in the pulsating contest at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues had not been beaten at home since Arsenal’s 2-1 success in February 2004 but Liverpool deserved their triumph with an impressive display.
Chelsea began the brighter of the two sides and their initial thrusts almost resulted in an opening goal.
Nicolas Anelka dribbled his way into the penalty area in the third minute but was tackled before he could test Jose Reina.
The ball fell to Deco but the Chelsea midfielder’s shot was deflected to safety. Liverpool went ahead in the ninth minute with their first attack of the game.
Chelsea failed to deal with a thrown-in when John Terry could only half-clear Dirk Kuyt’s clever back-header.
The ball fell to Alonso on the edge of the penalty area and his shot deflected off Chelsea right-back Bosingwa into the net.
Liverpool were now in commanding form and dominating the game.
In the 17th minute, Albert Riera beat Bosingwa on the left flank but fired his shot into the side netting.
Chelsea, hoping to stretch their unbeaten home league sequence to 87 games, struggled to get back into the game.
Bosingwa tried to run at the Liverpool defence in the 21st minute but was chopped down crudely by Riera who received a booking from referee Howard Webb as a result.
Seconds later Salomon Kalou headed just over the bar from another cross by Bosingwa.
Liverpool continued to look dangerous and in the 24th minute they almost increased their lead when Cech was forced to tip a glorious volley from Steven Gerrard over the bar.
Chelsea began to find some consistency as the first half wore on but they were struggling to produce a telling final ball into the penalty area.
Time and again their neat approach work was undone by a poor pass but Frank Lampard, so often their inspiration, won a corner in the 33rd minute with a deflected shot.
But although it came to nothing, Chelsea continued to enjoy their best spell of the game.
Bosingwa sent over a number of crosses from the right flank but Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher were inspired at the heart of the visitors’ defence.
In the 36th minute Deco was given time and space to run at the Liverpool defence but his left-foot drive from 18 yards was wide of Jose Reina’s right-hand upright.
In the 38th minute Gerrard looked to be heading for an early bath for a foul on Bosingwa.
However, referee Webb elected to show the England midfielder a yellow card for his challenge.
Liverpool’s speed on the counter-attack almost opened up Chelsea again in the 43rd minute but, despite some confusion in the home defence, John Mikel Obi managed to clear their lines.
Chelsea began the second half in a much brighter fashion and it required an interception from Carragher to prevent a cross from Florent Malouda reaching its destination in the six-yard box.
In the 53rd minute Malouda was booked for checking a fine run by Alvaro Arbeloa.
Moments later Malouda was felled by Liverpool ’keeper Reina in the penalty area but he had already been ruled offside by referee Webb.
Cole was next into Webb’s book when the official took a dislike to his challenge on Carragher.
In the 57th minute, Kuyt tried his luck from 20 yards but his effort was wide of the target.
It was the catalyst for a Chelsea to make a double substitution with Malouda and Kalou replaced by Juliano Belletti and Franco Di Santo.
It was another indication of Chelsea’s growing frustration and it prompted Liverpool to replace Robbie Keane with Ryan Babel.
The Reds were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out in the 60th minute when Belletti kicked Riera in the face.
Chelsea then had a massive escape when Alonso’s effort rebounded off the foot of the post for Ricardo Carvalho to clear.
Babel was brought down by Cole as he tried to collect the ball but referee Webb decided to book Javier Mascherano for attempting to persuade the official to dismiss the left-back.
Cole squandered a great chance to level the scores in the 73rd minute when Di Santo nodded Lampard’s cross into his path.
But the defender screwed his effort wide of the post from eight yards. Moments later Carragher rescued Liverpool when he deflected Deco’s effort for a corner.
At the opposite end, a 25-yard drive from Babel was only just wide of the target.
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