Times
Chelsea grateful for Steven Gerrard gift in vital victory at Anfield
Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2
Chelsea grateful for Steven Gerrard gift in vital victory at Anfield
Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2
Oliver Kay, Football Correspondent
It kept coming down to the word “history”. Would Liverpool, as Sir Alex Ferguson put it, throw away theirs by standing aside for a title procession? Or would they throw it away by sending the visiting team off course? In the end, all that mattered was Chelsea’s determination to make some history of their own.
Victory over Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge on Sunday will confirm Chelsea as Barclays Premier League champions and while Ferguson and Manchester United will keep praying for an upset, Carlo Ancelotti’s team have come too far to throw it all away now. In winning at Anfield yesterday they demonstrated their title-winning credentials, albeit without flaunting them.
Chelsea did not hit top gear and needed a push-start to get going. The calamitous back-pass by Steven Gerrard that gifted Didier Drogba the opening goal in the 33rd minute is likely to go down as a defining moment in this season’s title race. It was seized upon by those conspiracy theorists who suggested that Liverpool would do anything to deny United a record-breaking nineteenth title — and Ferguson, to his credit, was not among them — but Gerrard would wearily testify that it was typical of a wretched campaign for him and his club.
To that point, Chelsea’s performance had been alarmingly flat, lacking the dynamism that has characterised their efforts to wrestle the trophy away from Old Trafford. But Drogba’s goal brought a sense of assurance and purpose to their play and by the time Frank Lampard slid in to score the decisive second goal from Nicolas Anelka’s cross early in the second half, they were beginning to perform with the swagger of champions.
The most impressive thing about Chelsea this season — in addition to the 95 goals they have scored in 37 league matches — is that they have gone to the Emirates Stadium, Old Trafford and now Anfield and won. Anfield may have been a crumbling fortress this season, but it is still no easy task to win there, even against a Liverpool team that looked drained, demoralised and diminished after elimination from the Europa League by Atlético Madrid on Thursday.
Liverpool were the better team for the first half-hour, with Maxi Rodríguez offering a creative spark and the lesser-seen Alberto Aquilani striking a 25-yard shot inches over the crossbar, but the game hinged on the back-pass by Gerrard. It was a terrible blunder, with Drogba stealing in to intercept and to take the ball around Pepe Reina to score in front of the Kop, and, in that moment, the odds on a Chelsea title success tumbled.
Gerrard, mortified, put his head in his hands. It was not the first time he has nudged Chelsea towards a trophy — there was an unfortunate own goal in the 2005 Carling Cup final, when Liverpool led 1-0 with ten minutes remaining — and it was not the first time he had seen a “blind” back-pass punished. Thierry Henry has profited from two such aberrations from Gerrard: famously when England played France in Euro 2004, winning the penalty from which Zinédine Zidane scored the decisive goal in stoppage time, and less so in a league match against Arsenal at Highbury in March 2006.
The goal by Drogba changed the atmosphere on and off the pitch. As half-time approached, Gerrard lost the ball again in midfield, allowing the sprightly Salomon Kalou to beat Javier Mascherano’s challenge and run clear of the home defence. When Kalou fell under a challenge by Lucas Leiva, Alan Wiley, the referee, put his whistle to his lips and then decided against awarding the penalty. Television replays showed that Kalou had been touched by Lucas but had somehow tripped himself when about to shoot.
Chelsea’s players argued with Wiley as the half-time whistle blew — John Terry deserves some credit for staying out of it for once, as does Ashley Cole for dragging some of his team-mates away — but they need not have worried. Far more incisive with Kalou on the left wing and Anelka on the right, they doubled their lead when Anelka, played onside by a dawdling Mascherano and a limping Jamie Carragher, crossed from the right and Lampard burst into the six-yard area to score a goal that was celebrated joyously.
With Carragher’s ankle injury forcing him off, Liverpool were starting to look extremely fragile. They should be grateful that Drogba, sated by his goal and perhaps restricted by an early knock, was not in the mood to terrorise Daniel Ayala, the 19-year-old Liverpool substitute. Certainly there was no prospect of a fightback from the home team, who, even though they had the will to win the game when it kicked off, looked drained of all energy and self-belief by the time they went 2-0 down.
It was, in the end, just the kind of limp Liverpool defeat that the conspiracy theorists had talked of beforehand, but that had nothing to do with anti-United sentiment and everything to do with the sense of gloom that engulfs the club. This time last year they were on course for a second-placed finish with 86 points — a figure that Chelsea can only match by getting the victory they need against Wigan on Sunday — but the fire in their bellies has been extinguished over the course of a miserable campaign that is ending with a fin de régime feeling.
Rafael Benítez joined his players on a lap of honour, if it can be described as such, at the end and, while the feeling within Anfield is that his tenure is approaching an end, neither he, nor Gerrard, nor the injured Fernando Torres was giving the body-language experts any fresh material for study.
As for Chelsea’s players, as they drew the applause of their supporters, their body language was just what Ancelotti would want it to be: confident, but not complacent. United’s victory away to Sunderland confirmed that this was the right attitude. Those supporters could be heard chanting “We’ve saved your history” at their Liverpool counterparts, but far more important, they know, is making their own.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): J M Reina 7 J Mascherano 4 J Carragher 6 S Kyrgiakos 6 D Agger 6 Lucas Leiva 5 S Gerrard 4 M Rodríguez 6 A Aquilani 5 Y Benayoun 5 D Kuyt 4. Substitutes: R Babel 5 (for Rodríguez, 42min), D Ayala 5 (for Carragher, 56), D Ngog (for Aquilani, 77). Not used: D Cavalieri, P Degen, N El Zhar, D Pacheco. Next: Hull City (a).
Chelsea (4-3-2-1): P Cech 6 B Ivanovic 7 Alex 8 J Terry 7 A Cole 7 F Lampard 8 M Ballack 7 F Malouda 7 S Kalou 7 N Anelka 7 D Drogba 6. Substitutes: Y Zhirkov (for Kalou, 88min), J Cole (for Anelka, 90). Not used: Hilário, P Ferreira, J Belletti, Deco, D Sturridge. Next: Wigan Athletic (h).
--------------------------------------------------
Telegraph:
Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2
By Henry Winter at Anfield
So, it is down to the wire, down to the final weekend and down to Chelsea holding their nerve against Wigan Athletic. As Carlo Ancelotti and his strong-willed players moved ever closer to touching the Premier League trophy, Rafael Benítez’s dejected and disorganised Liverpool edged closer to touching the abyss.
In the snakes and ladders of footballing fortunes, Liverpool are sliding down as quickly as Chelsea climb high. Anfield’s famous Kop chanted about contrasting histories, counting out their five European Cups and 18 league titles, but really they should worry about the contrasting futures.
So it is down to Benítez to accept responsibility for an imbalanced squad’s travails in a season of deepening sorrow, accept an equable pay-off and leave for Juventus with thanks for the memories of Istanbul and Cardiff. Next Sunday’s game at Hull City will be Benítez’s 350th and anybody who fears for Liverpool’s future will hope it is his last. Benítez did talk to board members yesterday but only to discuss the best barbecue techniques. His guarantee of fourth place has certainly gone up in smoke.
A great club deserve better than this cold fish of a coach, a manager who has spent £230,476,000 on 77 players in six years (and brought in £151?million) yet whose back four yesterday finished with an Argentine central midfielder at right-back, a raw Spanish kid and slow-moving Greek in the middle and a decent Danish centre-half at left-back. Chaos. But for the outstanding Pepe Reina, Liverpool would have lost by more than goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.
Those Liverpool fans who thought only of frustrating Gary Neville and Manchester United yesterday, who even voiced their backing for Benítez, must surely now see the mess their club are in and their beleaguered manager’s culpability. Chelsea fans certainly did. “Oh Benítez, we want you to stay,’’ crowed the travelling support, revelling in the sight of a famous club dragged down by a manager long past his sell-by date. “You’re ancient history,’’ mocked the Kings Road glee club.
Chelsea have now done the League double three times over Benítez’s Liverpool and in 2004-05 and 2005-06 went on to win the Premier League, so history indicates another title. United will push them all the way, doubtless defeating Stoke City next Sunday, but it is hard to see Chelsea slipping up against Titus Bramble and company.
In a season of beach-balls, administration and fights in front of the WI, the unexpected should always be expected and the only truly confident prediction that can be ventured is that Wigan and Stoke will strive to uphold the competitive integrity of the Premier League.
But the belief that Chelsea will prevail was bolstered by events at Anfield, where their strengths were all on parade: the defensive fortitude embodied by John Terry, the midfield drive and goal threat of Lampard and Drogba’s ability to bully a weak defence. Drogba may fall over a lot but he certainly knows how to flatten opponents. As well as the star turns, Chelsea’s support cast have performed well. Branislav Ivanovic continues to impress, defending stoutly and moving assertively down the right flank. Watching the improving Florent Malouda has been one of the joys of the season, and the Frenchman’s movement utterly bemused hapless Liverpool journeymen such as Lucas. Salomon Kalou inflicted regular pain on Javier Mascherano. Even Michael Ballack shone, directing moves from the deep.
Yesterday almost had the feel of a coronation as Chelsea fans ran through the team, celebrating each player, a sequence traditionally reserved for titles. The blue hordes in the Anfield Road End even called on Ancelotti “to give us a wave’’. When the Italian remained unmoved, absorbed only in the game, Ray Wilkins sidled up behind him, like a royal courtier addressing a rather deaf monarch, to inform him of the fans’ salute. Ancelotti waved back, seemingly oblivious to the significance of the request. It was the moment when the fans took to their hearts this likeable ambassador for Chelsea’s good qualities.
Ancelotti has proved an inspired and quietly inspiring appointment by Roman Abramovich. He has an avuncular, appealing character, a manager who refuses to indulge in mind games. Ancelotti just gets on with people and gets on with things, like winning trophies.
How Liverpool could do with such a manager. The inadequacies of Benítez’s squad were laid bare with players labouring out of position. With honourable exceptions such as Reina and Daniel Agger, there was no heart to their displays, no belief suffusing their movements.
Liverpool had actually started brightly, Alberto Aquilani clipping the bar and Jamie Carragher momentarily gliding upfield like Bootle’s answer to Beckenbauer but it was the falsest of red dawns. The unease, and doubtless the tiredness following recent exertions, crept into Liverpool’s play and mistakes multiplied like topsy.
Aquilani managed an attempt on Chelsea’s goal that actually went backwards, a feat that defied geometry. Lucas, who somehow retains Benítez’s confidence, struck a pass to Mascherano that was so inaccurate, so awful that it rolled out for a Chelsea throw with the Kop almost placed on collective suicide watch.
Steven Gerrard, viciously taunted by the Chelsea fans, was particularly out of sorts. On a day when much focus was also on the Stadium of Light, suddenly the mind rewound to the Lisbon original, to England versus France at Euro 2004, when Gerrard underhit a backpass, allowing Thierry Henry in. This time Gerrard inadvertently ushered Drogba through towards goal.
The Ivorian rounded the exposed Reina and slotted the ball left-footed into the net as the Kop sighed and Gerrard hung his head in dismay and contrition. Gerrard’s record against Chelsea just got more wretched; in 30 meetings, he has scored one for Liverpool, netted an own goal for Chelsea and now this accidental “assist’’. And that’s why they call it the blues.
Chelsea were inevitably lifted, playing with pace and purpose. Kalou sped through on goal when clearly nudged by Lucas, knocking him slightly off balance. Alan Wiley ignored this, noting only Kalou clipping his own heels, which finally confirmed his descent to earth.
Chelsea were enraged, particularly as Wiley had looked ready to blow for the first incident. Ancelotti’s language was filthy and he was fortunate that Martin Atkinson, the fourth official, clearly has a limited knowledge of Italian invective.
The second half was far smoother, partly because Liverpool were so supine. When Carragher limped off to be replaced by Daniel Ayala, Liverpool’s back four was riddled with imbalance and belief. Ayala-Kyrgiakos hardly trips off the tongue like Hansen-Lawrenson.
Chelsea’s deserved second soon arrived, exploiting the disorder in the hosts’ defence. Ivanovic found Malouda, who guided Nicolas Anelka down the right. The Frenchman’s cross was low and hard and perfect for a midfielder as prolific as Lampard to slide in for his 26th goal of the season.
A final furlong of the Premier League race remains and Chelsea look the winning thoroughbreds. Liverpool need a new jockey.
-----------------------------------------------------
Sun:
Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2
From SHAUN CUSTIS at Anfield
FRANK LAMPARD did not win any of the Player of the Year awards.
He was not named in the PFA's all-star XI and may not even be voted his own club's player of the season.
But right to the end, Lampard is proving invaluable as ever to the Chelsea cause.
The midfield ace's 21st Premier League goal of another astonishingly consistent campaign set the seal on this victory and ensured the Blues are in pole position to win the title next weekend when they play host to Wigan.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti could win Chelsea their first-ever Double in his first season in charge.
How ironic that it was Steven Gerrard, who broke his heart in the Champions League final five years ago, who gave him so much assistance yesterday.
Gerrard was the inspiration behind Liverpool's comeback from 3-0 down against Ancelotti's AC Milan in Istanbul.
This time his pass back allowed Didier Drogba to skip round Pepe Reina on 33 minutes and put Chelsea on the road to victory.
Gerrard has done his bit for the Blues trophy cabinet over the years.
He also netted an own goal in the Carling Cup final of 2005 which provided Chelsea with the equaliser before they went on to lift the trophy.
His backpasses have also provided crucial goals for Thierry Henry to score for Arsenal against Liverpool and to win a penalty against England at Euro 2004.
Reds fans did not know whether to laugh or cry yesterday because a win for their team would probably have handed hated rivals Manchester United a record 19th title.
One large banner which read "Cockneys for a Day" reflected their dilemma.
They are proud of their rich history, the fact they share the record of title wins with United and that they have won more European Cups than any other English team. Chelsea fans acknowledged that when they came up with one of the chants of the season, singing: "We've saved your history."
For the first time the supporters, so hung up on old favourite Jose Mourinho, accorded their wholehearted appreciation to Ancelotti.
In fact, it almost passed the Italian by. When they sang "Carlo, Carlo give us a wave," he didn't understand and stood stark still in his technical area.
It threatened to get embarrassing until assistant Ray Wilkins emerged from the dugout, tapped Ancelotti on the back, and translated. At last a regal wave followed from the boss and the fans applauded in response.
For Ancelotti's opposite number Rafa Benitez, who took part in his team's lap of dis-honour at the end, the game would appear to be up.
He clapped, he waved, he smiled as the curtain came down at Anfield and there was a distinct feeling that it was Rafa's farewell to the fans.
It is highly unlikely the Spaniard will be in charge at Anfield in August, more likely he will be taking over at Juventus.
His Liverpool went out with a whimper in front of their own supporters, although there were mitigating circumstances given the sapping two hours they endured in the Europa League semi-final exit against Atletico Madrid.
There were only two changes to the side which had played three days earlier and they could barely summon up the strength for a shot.
Chelsea, by contrast, had a real spring in their step and once Drogba had converted Gerrard's aberration of a backpass, it was only a question of how many Chelsea could add to their tally.
Keeper Petr Cech had one of his easiest afternoons as he watched Lampard go close with a right-foot drive and was as incredulous as his team-mates when Salomon Kalou went down in the box having apparently been tripped by Lucas.
The normally laid-back Ancelotti was out of his seat and on the pitch screaming in fury at referee Alan Wiley, yet replays suggested Kalou tripped himself up.
Kalou was in lively form and skipped across the byline to present a chance for Nicolas Anelka, who completely missed his kick in front of goal.
But then came the clincher as Drogba fed Anelka on the right, the cross came fizzing in low and Lampard slid it home.
It could have been more as keeper Reina saved superbly to keep out Florent Malouda's volley and made a double stop to deny Anelka and then Kalou.
Reina can hold his head up high around Anfield.
There are not too many of his colleagues who can do the same.
Liverpool
Jose Reina 8 Javier Mascherano 6 Sotiros Kyrgiakos 6 Jamie Carragher 7 (Ayala 6)Daniel Agger 7 Steven Gerrard 6 Lucas 6 Alberto Aquilani 5 (Ngog 5) Maxi Rodriguez 6 (Babel 5) Yossi Benayoun 4 Dirk Kuyt 6 Subs not used: Cavalieri, Degen, El Zhar, Pacheco. Booked: Mascherano.
Chelsea
Petr Cech 6 Branislav Ivanovic 6 John Terry 7 Alex 7 Ashley Cole 7 Frank Lampard 8 - STAR MAN Michael Ballack 7 Florent Malouda 7 Salomon Kalou 8 (Zhirkov 5) Didier Drogba 7 Nicolas Anelka 7 (J Cole 5) Subs not used: Hilario, Paulo Ferreira, Deco, Sturridge, Belletti. Booked: Malouda, Ballack.
----------------------------------------------
Star:
STEVEN GERRARD'S LIVERPOOL HOWLER IS A TITLE BONUS
By Danny Fullbrook
Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2
The banner waving near the Kop said it all: ‘Liverpool – Cockneys for a day.’Harsh perhaps, but it just about summed up this season-defining game.
Only Wigan can now deny Chelsea from wrestling the title from Manchester United – and that seems massively unlikely. But while Liverpool were lacklustre, Chelsea held their nerve and showed the bottle needed to win the Premier League. The home fans did not know whether to cheer or boo at the final whistle as all week so many of them made it clear they would accept defeat to stop United surpassing their joint record of 18 titles. But the 3,000 Chelsea fans knew exactly what to do as they celebrated wildly. They – and the players – now believe the title is in their grasp.
Coming to Anfield was a difficult task on paper, but in reality, after crashing out of the Europa League so painfully on Thursday to Atletico Madrid, Liverpool essentially rolled over. Despite that, Steven Gerrard will be thanking his lucky stars that Chelsea’s goal machine, Frank Lampard, got in on the act later on after gifting the Blues their opener. For some mad reason, the Chelsea midfielder was not named in the PFA team of the year. But while the players got it wrong, every manager in Europe would have Lampard in their side.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has freely admitted he was stunned at how good Lampard is at arriving late in the penalty area to score. He has scored 25 goals this season, with his strike yesterday settling matters at a virtually silent Anfield.
The goal came from the move of the game in the 54th minute. Branislav Ivanovic played the ball into Didier Drogba, who had dropped deep, and the striker swung it out to Nicolas Anelka, who had peeled off to the right wing.
The Frenchman did not need to look up because he knew where Lampard would be and right on cue the 31-year-old ghosted into the area, evading every defender, to slide the ball home.
It was a classic goal from the engine room of this impressive team, who are now motoring towards their first championship in four years and their first major trophy since Jose Mourinho left. Ancelotti said: “I am not surprised it was him who scored because Lampard has scored 25 goals this season. He has this wonderful ability to arrive in the box just at the right time – and he always seems to manage to do this.”
Things did not look quite so easy in the first half. While Liverpool went through the motions, Chelsea started slowly. Florent Malouda was playing in the middle, which made the visitors slightly blunt in attack.
At the other end, Alberto Aquilani, Yossi Benayoun and Gerrard all wasted chances before the skipper’s moment of madness and sloppy pass settled matters. The conspiracy theorists were going into overdrive after Gerrard’s gaffe. You can just imagine Sir Alex Ferguson’s face when he saw the goal. It is not the first time Gerrard has been punished for a back-pass this season, having done same against Arsenal. However, it was surprising that Drogba did not go up to the England star and shake his hand for the assist on his goal! All the Ivory Coast striker had to do was slip it past Pepe Reina and from that moment onwards the result was never in doubt.
Chelsea thought they should have had a penalty at the end of the first half, but as Salomon Kalou went through it was the striker who caught Lucas’ leg, causing him to come crashing down. The tension showed with the way the Chelsea players surrounded referee Alan Wiley at half-time, but the official was spot on. Anyway, Anelka and Lampard should already have scored a second before the break but wasted chances. In the second half it was only Reina who stopped Chelsea adding to Lampard’s goal. First he saved from Anelka at the far post and then Malouda met a looping defensive header away from goal on the volley, only to see the Spanish goalkeeper dive brilliantly to his left to turn the ball around the post.
For Liverpool and their fans this game was like slow torture. The life was slowly draining away from the team as their dreadful season petered out. With so much speculation over his future, Rafa Benitez should just put them out of their misery and quit because it is time for him to go after their 11th league defeat this season. Mind you, with Juventus failing to qualify for the Champions League, he might not be so ready to jump ship to Turin.
Given the abuse Liverpool fans happily dump on Chelsea with their ‘You’ve got no history’ chants, it was fitting that the Blues fans had the final word. As the Liverpool supporters sportingly clapped Chelsea from the pitch, the away fans sang, “We’ve saved your history”. For the time being anyway, with Chelsea, not United, now champions elect.
---------------------------------------------------
Mail:
Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2:
Carlo Ancelotti’s men have the title in their grasp after Steven Gerrard howler
By Matt Lawton
There will be cries of conspiracy after this. Not least because of the back-pass Steven Gerrard so generously delivered into the path of Didier Drogba for Chelsea’s opening goal.
But this was not a victory for the champions-elect against a Liverpool side that simply rolled over to stop Manchester United winning the title. It was a victory against a Liverpool side that had already died. For this season anyway.
This was Carlo Ancelotti’s first visit to Anfield as a manager and what a surreal experience it must have been. Where was the famous Anfield atmosphere? What happened to that legendary Liverpool spirit?
Chelsea won this in third gear. There were some impressive individual performances, most notably from Salomon Kalou, Frank Lampard, Michae l Ballack and Didier Drogba.
But they swept the hosts aside without producing the kind of football on which their success this season has been built.
They now stand on the verge of winning a domestic double in Ancelotti’s first season because of the high-tempo, attacking football they have played.
After their thrashing of Stoke the previous weekend, this was what the Italian might now call another stroll in the park.
Alberto Aquilani unleashed a shot that skimmed the crossbar, but it was about the only time Chelsea were under any kind of pressure.
There was no way Gerrard intended to commit the mistake that enabled Drogba to seize control of this game in the 34th minute. The back-pass might have struck United followers as a bit dodgy, given that it was delivered by Liverpool’scaptain and one of only two Scousers in the team.
But the look of horror on Gerrard’s face when Drogba accelerated into the box, took the ball round Pepe Reina and scored into an empty net was proof enough that stopping Ferguson’s side win a 19th championship for their club was the furthest thing from his mind.
For Gerrard there were painful echoes of the back-pass against France in Euro 2004. So often the scorer of important goals for Chelsea, Lampard continued another terrific season nine minutes after the break with his 26th goal of the campaign. It was more of a poacher’s goal than a vintage effort from the all-action midfielder, Lampard surging ahead of Yossi Benayoun to meet Nicolas Anelka’s cross with a close-range finish.
But it was typical of the man; typical of a player who possesses vast reserves of energy and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. After that difficult defeat to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan, Ancelotti must have wondered if Chelsea had been the right move for him. But on Sunday the supporters sang his name and demanded a wave. After having the chant translated by Ray Wilkins, the Italian duly obliged.
He has been accepted by the Chelsea supporters and if he does now match Mourinho next week with the English title in his first season, perhaps Roman Abramovich will think twice before he responds to a major defeat by charging into the training ground the next day.
‘We’re gonna win the League,’ sang Chelsea fans and if they do it will amount to a stunning victory for Ancelotti.
On a strangely sombre Anfield afternoon, there were moments of defiance. A cry of anger from Jamie Carragher at what he considered a poor decision; a chorus of disapproval from the Kop; this was Liverpool’s 11th defeat of a desperate Barclays Premier League season and you could sense that the majority of their supporters are sick of seeing such mediocrity.As Sir Alex Ferguson pretty much said before watching his side take on Sunderland, how can you seriously expect a team that has been beaten 19 times in all this season to see off Chelsea?
Tired and demoralised after suffering yet another setback with defeat in Thursday night’s Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, Liverpool really did deliver a limp display.
A performance that demonstrated just how far they have fallen behind in 12 months and one that demanded a major overhaul, whether it be Rafa Benitez or someone else in charge.
Benitez refused to be drawn on his future but this might well have been the Spaniard’s last stand at Anfield; a last appearance before escaping the off-the-field chaos and what he considers to be the ‘broken promises’ and heads off to Juventus.
If it was — and it might yet be that Liverpool decide that the best way to recover from their failure to qualify for the Champions League is to change the manager — it will crush Benitez that it ended this way.
That it ended with his side testing Petr Cech only once with a 90th-minute effort from Dirk Kuyt; that it ended with Ancelotti no doubt wondering what happened to the players he met in two Champions League finals not so long ago.
When things started to go wrong for Liverpool, they crumbled. Defeat followed defeat, with Benitez seemingly powerless to arrest the slide.
At Chelsea, however, there has been no such demise. They might have been on their knees after losing to the Special One but the way Ancelotti has revived his team has been nothing short of brilliant.
MATCH FACTS
LIVERPOOL (4-4-1-1): Reina 6; Mascherano 4, Carragher 6 (Ayala 57min, 6), Kyrgiakos 6, Agger 6; Rodriguez 6 (Babel 42, 5), Gerrard 5, Lucas 5, Benayoun 6; Aquilani 6 (Ngog 77, 5); Kuyt 6.Booked: Mascherano.
CHELSEA (4-3-2-1): Cech 6; Ivanovic 6, Alex 6, Terry 6, A Cole 6; Lampard 7, Ballack 6, Malouda 7; Kalou 7 (Zhirkov 87), Anelka 6 (J Cole 90); Drogba 7.Booked: Ballack, Malouda.
Referee: Alan Wiley.
Man of the match: Frank Lampard.
--------------------------------------------
Independent:
Formidable, ruthless and well-drilled. Chelsea show champion class
Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2
By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent
It required Ray Wilkins to whisper in Carlo Ancelotti's ear that the Chelsea fans in the Anfield Road End were chanting for their manager to acknowledge them so, breaking out of his fraught concentration, the Italian turned to his left and waved merrily.
It might have been a small detail on a famous afternoon in the history of Chelsea but it signified an important shift in the status of Ancelotti. On the day that his team took a giant step towards winning their third Premier League title of the Roman Abramovich era, this was the moment that he stopped being just another Chelsea manager trying to emulate Jose Mourinho and looked more like a Chelsea manager in his own right.
The shadow Mourinho casts over Chelsea is long indeed, especially after his Internazionale team eliminated them from the Champions League this season and, since his departure in September 2007, no one has come close to replacing him in the hearts of the fans. They never embraced Avram Grant or Luiz Felipe Scolari. Guus Hiddink only got the love-in when he won the FA Cup at Wembley last May.
Ancelotti is now within touching distance of the Premier League and all his team need to do is win against Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to be sure of seeing off Manchester United. After three seasons of living under the yoke of Sir Alex Ferguson's dominance – not to mention that Champions League final defeat in Moscow in 2008 – they are back at the top of English football. The whole Abramovich project has been re-energised.
There could yet be one more extraordinary twist in this season – of course it was Wigan who beat Chelsea 3-1 in September – but by the manner in which Ancelotti's team saw off Liverpool you would not bet on it. Experienced, ruthless and well-drilled, they are not the kind of team to slip with one hand on the trophy. Suddenly with the finish line in sight they are looking formidable again.
They were the recipients of an extraordinary good turn yesterday when Steven Gerrard played the throughball for Didier Drogba to score the first goal for Chelsea on 33 minutes yesterday. It was reminiscent of Gerrard's horrendous Euro 2004 back-pass to Thierry Henry that led to France's penalty, and a similar gaffe against Arsenal two years later and it opened the way for Chelsea to win the game.
The immediate response was to think that Liverpool's captain was conspiring against United's 19th Premier League title but no one would seriously accuse Gerrard of that. Even Ferguson, interviewed before his side's win at Sunderland, conceded that mistakes "can happen" and to hear some of the vile abuse directed at Gerrard from the Chelsea fans was to know there was no way he was doing them any favours.
In reality, Liverpool were never likely to win this game. The chaos over Rafael Benitez's future; the absence of Fernando Torres and the general weary feeling of a great club in flux and uncertain of its future hung over Anfield. A banner before the game asked the simple question "Chelsea or Gary Neville?" But in the end, Liverpool have too many problems of their own to worry about United and Chelsea.
It is hard to remember a more downbeat end to a season at Anfield in the Benitez years and it was typified by two moments in the game involving the home side's two most famous sons. The first was Gerrard's backpass to Drogba; the second was Jamie Carragher limping off disconsolately in the second half – the old spirit of Liverpool defiance well and truly crushed.
At the end of the game the players came back on to the pitch with their children to thank their fans. No one seemed to know which direction to walk round the field. The children were the only ones smiling. It was also Carlsberg's last day as club sponsor after 18 years and the thought occurred that in their current state Liverpool were not just incapable of organising the proverbial celebration in a brewery, they had lost the brewery too.
There was no Glen Johnson in the home line-up – a worry for the watching Franco Baldini, Fabio Capello's right-hand man. Alberto Aquilani had a chance early on to shoot from Maxi Rodriguez's nicely chipped pass but he delayed and allowed Branislav Ivanovic to make a clumsy challenge. Liverpool never really got going.
Once Gerrard had inexplicably played in Drogba to go round Pepe Reina and score, Chelsea were all over their opponents. They might have had a penalty before half-time when Lucas Leiva made contact with Salomon Kalou as he went into the box. The striker tripped over his own feet but he was certainly nudged.
Ancelotti had to be retrieved from the pitch by Wilkins where he had run on in a rage and the Chelsea players surrounded referee Alan Wiley. "You're ancient history," sang the Chelsea fans, followed by a few verses of "We saved your history" in reference to the likelihood that they have stopped United from winning their 19th title.
The second goal nine minutes after the break came from the right side although it was the co-opted Liverpool right-back Javier Mascherano who played Chelsea onside. Drogba found Nicolas Anelka on the right and his low cross was turned in by Frank Lampard, timing his run to perfection for his 26th goal of the season.
For many, Lampard is the difference between United and Chelsea this season, especially now that United are without Cristiano Ronaldo. As for Liverpool, Gerrard has 12 goals this term and he did not look like adding another yesterday. You can only wonder how pessimistic he must feel about the next campaign and whether the thought has again crossed his mind that it might be time to try somewhere else.
Indeed it was difficult to find anything positive to say about Liverpool as they trooped around the pitch after the match. In the past, Benitez has been capable of pulling remarkable results out of the hat and Gerrard, more than anyone, has been his miracle man. But the sense at Anfield yesterday was that the show was all played out and the tricks used up.
The Chelsea players saluted their supporters and headed off for a flight home and one more week's preparation until the big one at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Leaving behind Liverpool to contemplate their great history and their many, many problems.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina; Mascherano, Carragher (Ayala, 57), Kyrgiakos, Agger; Gerrard, Lucas; Rodriguez (Babel, 42), Aquilani (Ngog, 77), Benayoun; Kuyt. Substitutes not used Cavalieri (gk), Degen, El Zhar, Pacheco.
Formidable, ruthless and well-drilled. Chelsea show champion class
Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2
By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent
It required Ray Wilkins to whisper in Carlo Ancelotti's ear that the Chelsea fans in the Anfield Road End were chanting for their manager to acknowledge them so, breaking out of his fraught concentration, the Italian turned to his left and waved merrily.
It might have been a small detail on a famous afternoon in the history of Chelsea but it signified an important shift in the status of Ancelotti. On the day that his team took a giant step towards winning their third Premier League title of the Roman Abramovich era, this was the moment that he stopped being just another Chelsea manager trying to emulate Jose Mourinho and looked more like a Chelsea manager in his own right.
The shadow Mourinho casts over Chelsea is long indeed, especially after his Internazionale team eliminated them from the Champions League this season and, since his departure in September 2007, no one has come close to replacing him in the hearts of the fans. They never embraced Avram Grant or Luiz Felipe Scolari. Guus Hiddink only got the love-in when he won the FA Cup at Wembley last May.
Ancelotti is now within touching distance of the Premier League and all his team need to do is win against Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to be sure of seeing off Manchester United. After three seasons of living under the yoke of Sir Alex Ferguson's dominance – not to mention that Champions League final defeat in Moscow in 2008 – they are back at the top of English football. The whole Abramovich project has been re-energised.
There could yet be one more extraordinary twist in this season – of course it was Wigan who beat Chelsea 3-1 in September – but by the manner in which Ancelotti's team saw off Liverpool you would not bet on it. Experienced, ruthless and well-drilled, they are not the kind of team to slip with one hand on the trophy. Suddenly with the finish line in sight they are looking formidable again.
They were the recipients of an extraordinary good turn yesterday when Steven Gerrard played the throughball for Didier Drogba to score the first goal for Chelsea on 33 minutes yesterday. It was reminiscent of Gerrard's horrendous Euro 2004 back-pass to Thierry Henry that led to France's penalty, and a similar gaffe against Arsenal two years later and it opened the way for Chelsea to win the game.
The immediate response was to think that Liverpool's captain was conspiring against United's 19th Premier League title but no one would seriously accuse Gerrard of that. Even Ferguson, interviewed before his side's win at Sunderland, conceded that mistakes "can happen" and to hear some of the vile abuse directed at Gerrard from the Chelsea fans was to know there was no way he was doing them any favours.
In reality, Liverpool were never likely to win this game. The chaos over Rafael Benitez's future; the absence of Fernando Torres and the general weary feeling of a great club in flux and uncertain of its future hung over Anfield. A banner before the game asked the simple question "Chelsea or Gary Neville?" But in the end, Liverpool have too many problems of their own to worry about United and Chelsea.
It is hard to remember a more downbeat end to a season at Anfield in the Benitez years and it was typified by two moments in the game involving the home side's two most famous sons. The first was Gerrard's backpass to Drogba; the second was Jamie Carragher limping off disconsolately in the second half – the old spirit of Liverpool defiance well and truly crushed.
At the end of the game the players came back on to the pitch with their children to thank their fans. No one seemed to know which direction to walk round the field. The children were the only ones smiling. It was also Carlsberg's last day as club sponsor after 18 years and the thought occurred that in their current state Liverpool were not just incapable of organising the proverbial celebration in a brewery, they had lost the brewery too.
There was no Glen Johnson in the home line-up – a worry for the watching Franco Baldini, Fabio Capello's right-hand man. Alberto Aquilani had a chance early on to shoot from Maxi Rodriguez's nicely chipped pass but he delayed and allowed Branislav Ivanovic to make a clumsy challenge. Liverpool never really got going.
Once Gerrard had inexplicably played in Drogba to go round Pepe Reina and score, Chelsea were all over their opponents. They might have had a penalty before half-time when Lucas Leiva made contact with Salomon Kalou as he went into the box. The striker tripped over his own feet but he was certainly nudged.
Ancelotti had to be retrieved from the pitch by Wilkins where he had run on in a rage and the Chelsea players surrounded referee Alan Wiley. "You're ancient history," sang the Chelsea fans, followed by a few verses of "We saved your history" in reference to the likelihood that they have stopped United from winning their 19th title.
The second goal nine minutes after the break came from the right side although it was the co-opted Liverpool right-back Javier Mascherano who played Chelsea onside. Drogba found Nicolas Anelka on the right and his low cross was turned in by Frank Lampard, timing his run to perfection for his 26th goal of the season.
For many, Lampard is the difference between United and Chelsea this season, especially now that United are without Cristiano Ronaldo. As for Liverpool, Gerrard has 12 goals this term and he did not look like adding another yesterday. You can only wonder how pessimistic he must feel about the next campaign and whether the thought has again crossed his mind that it might be time to try somewhere else.
Indeed it was difficult to find anything positive to say about Liverpool as they trooped around the pitch after the match. In the past, Benitez has been capable of pulling remarkable results out of the hat and Gerrard, more than anyone, has been his miracle man. But the sense at Anfield yesterday was that the show was all played out and the tricks used up.
The Chelsea players saluted their supporters and headed off for a flight home and one more week's preparation until the big one at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Leaving behind Liverpool to contemplate their great history and their many, many problems.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina; Mascherano, Carragher (Ayala, 57), Kyrgiakos, Agger; Gerrard, Lucas; Rodriguez (Babel, 42), Aquilani (Ngog, 77), Benayoun; Kuyt. Substitutes not used Cavalieri (gk), Degen, El Zhar, Pacheco.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, A Cole; Ballack; Kalou (Zhirkov, 88), Lampard, Malouda, Anelka (J Cole, 90); Drogba. Substitutes not used Hilario (gk), Ferreira, Deco, Sturridge, Belletti.
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
Booked: Liverpool Mascherano Chelsea Malouda, Ballack.
Man of the match Lampard.
Attendance 44,375.
SIX OF THE BEST: Chelsea's win at Anfield yesterday completed a clean sweep of league victories against the Big Four this season for the west Londonders
*4 Oct 2009: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0
Didier Drogba set up Nicolas Anelka for the opener after an hour before doing likewise for midfielder Florent Malouda to seal victory in injury time.
*8 Nov: Chelsea 1 Man United 0
John Terry and Anelka both appeared to get a touch on Frank Lampard's 76th-minute free-kick as Chelsea went five points clear at the top.
*29 Nov: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3
A Drogba double sandwiched Thomas Vermaelen's own goal as Arsenal were outclassed at the Emirates. The Ivorian's first came from an Ashley Cole cross before he swept home a fine fee-kick.
*7 Feb 2010: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0
Drogba scored another double inside the opening 25 minutes to make it 12 goals in 10 games against Arsenal and put Chelsea two points ahead of United.
*3 Apr: Man United 1 Chelsea 2
A 79th-minute goal from an offside- looking Drogba added to Joe Cole's cute backheel as Chelsea leapfrogged United at the summit. Federico Macheda grabbed a late consolation.
*2 May: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2
Steven Gerrard's backpass set up Drogba for the opener and Lampard made sure of the points, and perhaps the title, with a second-half tap-in.
--------------------------------------------
Guardian:
Chelsea beat Liverpool to move closer to the Premier League title
Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 Drogba 33, Lampard 54
Kevin McCarra at Anfield
A tepid match inflamed the hearts of visiting supporters who witnessed Chelsea taking themselves to the verge of the title. Carlo Ancelotti's side need, at the very most, a home win over Wigan next Sunday to bring the Premier League title back to Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2006. Conspiracy theorists, however, will linger over the opener, when Steven Gerrard rolled a careless backpass in the 33rd minute that invited a lurking Didier Drogba to open the scoring.
Anyone of a paranoid disposition who supposed there had been a plot against Manchester United will have to concede that the lapse was not as shocking as it would once have been. Gerrard has an unanswerable case if obliged to proclaim his integrity. The captain's form has been so poor for so long that even an aberration on this scale was in keeping with his sorry season at the club. Even so, he can get ready for incessant gags about how, belatedly, he did win the league for Chelsea, the club that once ached to buy him.
The Liverpool malaise extends far beyond an individual's blunder and Rafael Benítez would have met with a mutiny by fans had it not been for the fact that this loss had a marked appeal for them. The crowd, in any case, is now accustomed to such an outcome. Chelsea follow Aston Villa, Lyon, Fiorentina, Arsenal and Reading in being victorious at Anfield in this campaign.
Ancelotti's squad certainly contained the means to prevail here purely through its own efforts. Frank Lampard, indeed, was to notch his 21st league goal of the season after the interval. That was the true illustration of the talent at the manager's disposal. In his debut campaign in England, Ancelotti has a perfect record against United and Arsenal as well as Liverpool.
There has been a calmness to his work as he restricted himself to minor alterations and focused on sending out a well-prepared line-up, as he did here. There is no denying the fact, of course, that this stadium was not the crucible of passion it can be.
Liverpool had needed to win to stand an outside chance of landing the last of the Champions League qualifying round places but that was scarcely a great cause to galvanise the crowd. In the streets around the ground entrepreneurs had been hawking friendship scarves that contained the colours of both clubs. Trade was brisk since there were purchasers aplenty eager to declare the anti-United coalition.
No conniving, it has to be emphasised, is essential to bring about a tame Liverpool. The outcome was merely another demonstration of decline. Benítez's own position should be in jeopardy, even if it is his intention to reject a rumoured offer from Juventus, but any successor of note would insist on a grand budget to restore the club. While Liverpool are, in effect, on the market, there is no prospect of such radical and costly reconstruction of the squad. Despite Gerrard's brainstorm, Liverpool were not really bent on aiding the opposition's cause. Alberto Aquilani, for instance, was cutting it fine with a 25-yarder that brushed the top of the bar in the 11th minute if he had secretly been bent on missing. It did Liverpool no good either that Glen Johnson was ruled out with a calf strain and Maxi Rodríguez went off injured in the 42nd minute.
Each team played to no more than a moderate standard for much of the time, although the visitors could blame any conservatism on the delicacy of the situation. Ancelotti was enraged when the referee, Alan Wiley, refused to award a penalty as Salomon Kalou went down after 45 minutes, but the forward's heel had caught the knee of the pursuing Lucas Leiva. Chelsea, however, might have had their second goal by then had Sotirios Kyrgiakos not made a fine saving tackle on Nicolas Anelka in the 38th minute.
Nine minutes after the interval, though, the Frenchman took a pass from Drogba to stroke a low, pinpoint cross from the right and Lampard made sure of the win. The occasion petered out but Chelsea will have felt they were surging to the title as they made the trip back to London.
----------------------------------------------------
Express:
LIVERPOOL 0 CHELSEA 2: DIDIER DROGBA AND FRANK LAMPARD EDGE CLOSER TO TITLE By Mauro Galluzzo
CHELSEA edged closer to the Barclays Premier League title with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
An error by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard handed Didier Drogba a simple opening goal in the first half and Frank Lampard added a second after the break.
The result ensured Chelsea remained in pole position to win their first championship for four years but also finally put paid to the Merseysiders’ hopes of securing Champions League football next season.
With Manchester United a point behind before kick-off and playing later in the day, Carlo Ancelotti’s side knew anything less than a win would hand the initiative to their rivals.
And with next week’s final weekend seeing United host Stoke - Chelsea are at home to Wigan - there was no margin for error.
Chelsea were undoubtedly the better side but the match may have turned out differently had they not been gifted a 33rd-minute lead.
The conspiracy theorists would certainly have had a field day.
Some fans had been suggesting all week they would rather Chelsea win an Anfield than beat the Stamford Bridge side and hand United the chance to eclipse the club’s tally of 18 league titles.
However, even they could not have prophesied the manner of Chelsea’s goal.
Gerrard failed to notice Drogba when he passed back to Jose Reina and the Ivory Coast international nipped in to round the goalkeeper and tuck the ball home.
Prior to that, the early exchanges had been open. Lampard shot wide and Nicolas Anelka forced Reina into a low save while Liverpool’s Maxi Rodriguez and Javier Mascherano, standing in at right-back because of Glen Johnson’s calf injury, saw shots deflected wide.
There were also three penalty claims in what was a bustling first half.
Two for Chelsea involved Salomon Kalou and his tendency to hit the ground as soon as he entered the box.
His first was a blatant dive in the ninth minute under Mascherano’s challenge but referee Alan Wiley allowed that to go unpunished.
In added time at the end of the first half the same player was through on goal - with Lucas Leiva in close attendance - and managed to trip himself up.
Despite fierce Chelsea protests Wiley again made the correct decision.
Whether he got Alberto Aquilani’s 26th-minute penalty shout right was open to debate after the Italy international went down under Branislav Ivanovic’s challenge as he raced on to Rodriguez’s chipped pass was open to debate as the defender appeared not to get the ball.
The loss of Rodriguez to injury just before half-time, when he was replaced by Ryan Babel, was a blow to Liverpool.
Six minutes into the second half Kalou muscled his way past Mascherano to drill a cross into the six-yard area, where Anelka failed to get the touch which would certainly have brought a second Chelsea goal.
But the Frenchman played a more influential role in the 54th minute when his cross picked out Lampard who bundled home from close range.
If that was not bad enough for Liverpool, they then lost Carragher to injury which meant 19-year-old Daniel Ayala was thrust into the action.
A forlorn-looking Fernando Torres, whose season was prematurely ended by a second knee operation in three months, could only watch on despondently from the stands.
It would have been 3-0 in the 67th minute had it not been for Reina’s one-handed save from Florent Malouda’s low shot.
David Ngog replaced Aquilani for the final 15 minutes but Liverpool were a spent force with only Reina keeping Chelsea at bay, punching away Michael Ballack’s 25-yard free-kick and then producing a smart double save from Anelka and then Kalou.
The defeat meant Liverpool will finish the season with their lowest points total in five years, since accruing 58 in Rafael Benitez’s first campaign in charge back in 2004-05.
Whether the Spaniard, strongly linked with Juventus, is around next season to rectify that remains in doubt.
-------------------------------------------------------
Mirror:
Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea
By Martin Lipton
They might have to wait for a week. But nobody can deny them now.
For Chelsea, this visit to Anfield was the defining moment of the season, the game which threatened to be the biggest test of all.
Did they have the mentality to win it? Did they trust themselves? Did they possess the character of champions?
The answers tell you why the title will be spending the summer back in the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet: Yes. Yes. Yes. Six wins out of six against the Big Four. Just the one goal conceded in those matches, with 12 scored. That is the essence of champions, the stuff that ends four-year waits to stand back on the summit of English football again.
The defiance of John Terry, the control of Frank Lampard, the intelligence of Michael Ballack and the predatory instincts of Didier Drogba.
All far too good, far too strong, far too professional for Rafa Benitez and his ragged troops, even before they committed footballing suicide, the sort of stuff that would make a conspiracy theorist of far less suspicious managers than Sir Alex Ferguson.
The truth was that Liverpool were, frankly, awful.
Listless, lethargic, and shapeless, with the selection of Javier Mascherano at right-back emphasising all that is wrong about Benitez’s side.
But that was not Chelsea’s fault. The issue was whether they had it within them to take advantage, to show the clinical edge that title-winners need to show.
And they did. Unquestionably, resolutely, determinedly. Showing all the calmness that Carlo Ancelotti has preached over the past month, ensuring that there was not even the possibility of an error.
Only once, when Steven Gerrard picked up Terry’s hurried clearance and found Alberto Aquilani 25 yards out for a vicious strike that flicked off the top of the bar, was there even the slightest sign that Liverpool might be prepared to give the race for the crown a final twist.
Yet that was it, that was the sum total of the Merseysiders’ intent. And once Drogba had latched onto what has become a familiar Gerrard error – think Thierry Henry in Euro 2004 and at Arsenal the following season – taking one touch to round Pepe Reina and the second to pass into the gaping net for his personal record-equalling 33rd of the season, there was no way back.
Three times before the break, as Chelsea took advantage of that right-back deficiency, it could have been all over. Lampard, fed by Ashley Cole, was inches wide, Sotirios Kyrgiakos just got a touch as Nicolas Anelka bore down on Lampard’s pass, and Lucas appeared to get away with a clip on Solomon Kalou after the striker tricked Mascherano to race goalwards.
But it was merely delaying the inevitable, which duly came nine minutes after the restart.
Mascherano played Anelka onside from Florent Malouda’s ball through the inside-right channel and Lampard showed far, far more desire than Yossi Benayoun to steer the low cross into the net.
It was Lampard’s 25th of a remarkable season, as key in terms of the destiny of this title as the double at Bolton that sealed Jose Mourinho’s first crown in 2005.
No wonder the England midfielder celebrated with intensity. He knew what it represented.
That was that, although it needed Reina to prevent Malouda, Anelka or Kalou making it even more embarrassing than it already was, even if the comedy moment came when assistant boss Ray Wilkins had to whisper in Ancelotti’s ear to make the Italian realise the Chelsea fans were asking him to acknowledge them.
Even if Chelsea will not be able to confirm their coronation until next Sunday, there is an inevitability about what will happen.
Nobody, not even Manchester United boss Fergie, can argue with their right to be on top of the tree.
Wigan Athletic next week surely represents no more than the final underlining of the fact.
For Chelsea, this visit to Anfield was the defining moment of the season, the game which threatened to be the biggest test of all.
Did they have the mentality to win it? Did they trust themselves? Did they possess the character of champions?
The answers tell you why the title will be spending the summer back in the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet: Yes. Yes. Yes. Six wins out of six against the Big Four. Just the one goal conceded in those matches, with 12 scored. That is the essence of champions, the stuff that ends four-year waits to stand back on the summit of English football again.
The defiance of John Terry, the control of Frank Lampard, the intelligence of Michael Ballack and the predatory instincts of Didier Drogba.
All far too good, far too strong, far too professional for Rafa Benitez and his ragged troops, even before they committed footballing suicide, the sort of stuff that would make a conspiracy theorist of far less suspicious managers than Sir Alex Ferguson.
The truth was that Liverpool were, frankly, awful.
Listless, lethargic, and shapeless, with the selection of Javier Mascherano at right-back emphasising all that is wrong about Benitez’s side.
But that was not Chelsea’s fault. The issue was whether they had it within them to take advantage, to show the clinical edge that title-winners need to show.
And they did. Unquestionably, resolutely, determinedly. Showing all the calmness that Carlo Ancelotti has preached over the past month, ensuring that there was not even the possibility of an error.
Only once, when Steven Gerrard picked up Terry’s hurried clearance and found Alberto Aquilani 25 yards out for a vicious strike that flicked off the top of the bar, was there even the slightest sign that Liverpool might be prepared to give the race for the crown a final twist.
Yet that was it, that was the sum total of the Merseysiders’ intent. And once Drogba had latched onto what has become a familiar Gerrard error – think Thierry Henry in Euro 2004 and at Arsenal the following season – taking one touch to round Pepe Reina and the second to pass into the gaping net for his personal record-equalling 33rd of the season, there was no way back.
Three times before the break, as Chelsea took advantage of that right-back deficiency, it could have been all over. Lampard, fed by Ashley Cole, was inches wide, Sotirios Kyrgiakos just got a touch as Nicolas Anelka bore down on Lampard’s pass, and Lucas appeared to get away with a clip on Solomon Kalou after the striker tricked Mascherano to race goalwards.
But it was merely delaying the inevitable, which duly came nine minutes after the restart.
Mascherano played Anelka onside from Florent Malouda’s ball through the inside-right channel and Lampard showed far, far more desire than Yossi Benayoun to steer the low cross into the net.
It was Lampard’s 25th of a remarkable season, as key in terms of the destiny of this title as the double at Bolton that sealed Jose Mourinho’s first crown in 2005.
No wonder the England midfielder celebrated with intensity. He knew what it represented.
That was that, although it needed Reina to prevent Malouda, Anelka or Kalou making it even more embarrassing than it already was, even if the comedy moment came when assistant boss Ray Wilkins had to whisper in Ancelotti’s ear to make the Italian realise the Chelsea fans were asking him to acknowledge them.
Even if Chelsea will not be able to confirm their coronation until next Sunday, there is an inevitability about what will happen.
Nobody, not even Manchester United boss Fergie, can argue with their right to be on top of the tree.
Wigan Athletic next week surely represents no more than the final underlining of the fact.
No comments:
Post a Comment