Liverpool Match Review: Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

(Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

Liverpool tasted defeat for the third time in the Premier League this season following a 2-0 reversal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. The result leaves the Reds six points adrift of the league leaders and in desperate need of an upturn in fortunes, with the season just eight games old.

Liverpool entered one of the their toughest assignments of the season of the back of a poor showing in a 2-0 midweek Champions League defeat to Fiorentina. Rafa Benitez demanded a much improved came in for Yossi Benayoun on the left, Javier Mascherano returned to the centre of midfield, with Steven Gerrard behind Fernando Torres in attack. 

However, eventual outcome was again less than encouraging for Liverpool and Reds fans.

Liverpool and Chelsea have of course become all too familiar foes in recent years and this was amazingly the 30th time that the two clubs had met since the 2001/02 season.

Liverpool’s record in games at Stamford Bridge has been less than impressive during this time, although last seasons 1-0 Premier League triumph and the four goals scored in the recent Champions League quarter-final had meant that expectations amongst the Liverpool faithful had risen.

This was the Reds first meeting with the West Londoners since the arrival of former AC Milan Coach Carlo Ancelloti, but some of the same old problems persisted for Rafa’s men as have been evident in many previous visits to Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool entered the game knowing that avoiding defeat could well to vital to their league title ambitions and also spurred on by the prospect of closing the gap at the top, with Manchester United only drawing at home to Sunderland of Saturday evening. But, in truth, the Reds never truly looked capable of winning this one.

Both sides were relatively well-matched prior to Nicolas Anelka’s decisive 60 minute opener. Neither side had afforded many openings, in a tight encounter, prior to that goal, but it was the  home side, who always looked the more dangerous and capable of inflicting the decisive blow.

The crucial difference between the two teams seemed to lie in midfield. Whilst much has been made of the Reds defensive failings this season—and two more here does make it 12 goals in eight games—it seems to ultimately be in the centre of the pitch were they are lacking something.

Whist Chelsea have players such Michael Ballack and Michael Essien in their midfield engine room, who are not only solid and reliable but also capable of driving the team forward, supporting the attackers and making things happen, Liverpool seem to lack such a quality.

Lucas and Mascherano are both good at doing what they do best—keeping things simple and breaking up opposition attacks—but neither really possesses the instinct or ability to create for and support the likes of Gerrard and Torres.

Both Lucas and Mascherano generally performed their duties effectively against Chelsea, with the Argentine partial at fault for losing possession prior to the first goal, but neither were able to provide the necessary assistance and supply line for Torres and Gerrard through the centre of the field.

Ultimately, this left the front pairing isolated and likes of John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Essien were too easily able to smoother out any creativity. With Riera again ineffective and Dirk Kuyt also struggling for space and support, the Reds were rarely able to threaten Hilario’s goal.

The most glaring omission from last seasons improved fortunes at Stamford Bridge was of course Xabi Alonso. It often seems to easy state the significance of Alono’s departure, but in a game such as this that sort of player may well have proved the difference.

Alberto Aquilani may well be finally available for the trip to Sunderland after the international break and time will tell if he is capable of plugging the evident gap in the Reds midfield.

Hopefully, that will be the case because, although the current midfield may be adequate against some of the lesser sides in the division, improving the balance of the side is paramount with some big games on the horizon.

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