Liverpool vs. Chelsea: Winners and Losers from Capital One Cup Game
This Capital One Cup semi-final remains finely poised following Tuesday's 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Chelsea.
Eden Hazard opened the scoring in the 18th minute that he earned against the run of play after winning a penalty off Emre Can before Raheem Sterling answered for Liverpool with a delightful goal in the 59th.
The two sides will now reconvene in a week's time for the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Following are the individual winners and losers from the first leg at Anfield.
Winner: Thibaut Courtois, Who Was Exceptional in Goal for Chelsea
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But for Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea might have lost by two or three goals on Tuesday.
The Blues goalkeeper was exceptional at Anfield and, over the course of the night, made several important saves to keep his side in the tie.
In the 16th minute, he tipped Steven Gerrard's swerving effort over the crossbar and just after the half-hour mark slapped away the Liverpool skipper's free-kick.
Then, in the 67th minute, the Belgium international denied Philippe Coutinho just seconds after Gerrard had hit the post, and with 11 minutes remaining, he made a diving save to deny Adam Lallana.
"Courtois outstanding again," tweeted the BBC's Phil McNulty after the goalkeeper's save on Lallana.
Loser: Diego Costa, Who Fell to Ground When He Should Have Stayed on His Feet
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Diego Costa—the Premier League's top goalscorer through 22 rounds—was mostly anonymous on Tuesday; according to WhoScored.com, he touched the ball just 44 times at Anfield and didn't take a single shot.
He might have actually had a decent opportunity in the 76th minute when he did well to control a long, overhead ball with Liverpool defenders Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho battling with him, but just when it looked as though he might have squeezed off a shot or moved the ball into better space, he crumpled to ground after feeling Sakho's foot hit his leg.
"Costa left his leg dangling to ensure contact," analysed talkSPORT's Stan Collymore via Twitter. "Great player, another serial simulator."
Winner: Jordan Henderson, Who Controlled Play and Picked Up an Assist
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Liverpool dominated the possession battle on Tuesday, and it was Jordan Henderson who kept things ticking for the hosts in the centre of the park.
The midfielder's distribution was generally crisp and effective, and, according to WhoScored.com, he also contributed five tackles on the defensive side of the ball. In the 59th minute, his well-timed, accurate pass found Raheem Sterling, who proceeded to restore level terms.
With Steven Gerrard leaving Anfield in the summer, Henderson's display was a positive for the future for the Reds.
Winner: Eden Hazard, Who Drew a Penalty and Opened the Scoring
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Chelsea had barely made an impression on Tuesday when Eden Hazard won a penalty off Emre Can.
Beaten by Cesc Fabregas, who had taken up a deep position in the Liverpool box, Can sloppily threw himself into Hazard as the Belgian received his teammate's reverse pass and was rightly judged to have committed a penalty offense.
Moments later Hazard stepped up and beat Reds goalkeeper Simon Mignolet from 12 yards.
"Hazard is so stupendously good at penalties he waits till he sees which way the 'keeper is going and then knows where to put it," analysed television presenter Mark Pougatch.
Loser: Gary Cahill, Who Was Once Again a Weak Spot in the Chelsea Defence
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Gary Cahill played one of his poorest games in a Chelsea shirt on New Year's Day when the Premier League leaders lost 5-3 to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
He was only marginally better on Tuesday.
In the 59th minute, and positioned too far forward, he was easily turned by Raheem Sterling as the Liverpool attacker rushed in to score.
"Sterling irresistible run, exploiting Cahill lack of real pace," tweeted The Telegraph's Henry Winter.
Added The Sunday Times' Duncan Castles: "As is Cahill's way, when he begins to make wrong decisions more and more follow."
Winner: Raheem Sterling, Who Scored a Much-Deserved Equaliser
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A draw was the least Liverpool deserved based on their territorial dominance Tuesday. But as it turned out, they could only muster a single goal against a stingy Chelsea outfit.
It came just shy of the hour-mark and was the work of speedster Raheem Sterling.
After accepting Jordan Henderson's excellent pass, the England attacker left both Nemanja Matic and John Obi Mikel in his wake before turning Gary Cahill and finishing confidently past Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
"Brilliant equaliser from Sterling," tweeted television presenter Mark Pougatch. "Turns and springs at the Chelsea defense before sliding a left-footed shot past Courtois."
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was quoted by Dominic King of the Daily Mail as saying, "He (Sterling) was outstanding. He has that ability to move in behind but he can also exploit the space in front. His speed was frightening to come in and finish, wonderful goal. He certainly deserved that."
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