Liverpool 2 Chelsea 0

 

Just can’t help it..haha..Although this blog is meant for weddings and gossips stuff but outstanding achievement by Livepool yesterday deserves an equally glowing mention in this blog.

Nevertheless, Rafael Benitez claimed his first Barclays Premiership win over Chelsea since becoming Liverpool boss thanks to goals from Dirk Kuyt and Jermaine Pennant. Kuyt fired the Reds into an early lead before Pennant’s brilliant first goal for the club sealed victory – and still within the first 20 minutes.

An injury-weakened Chelsea side were for once outplayed as Benitez’s side held on comfortably and could easily have extended their lead. They were on top from the start and, after Jon Obi Mikel’s weak shot had bounced into arms of Reina, Steven Gerrard gave Petr Cech – playing in a rugby union-style ‘skullcap’ after his recent fractured skull – a tame first test with a looping header from Pennant’s cross. Liverpool were soon ahead, though, with Kuyt’s fourth-minute goal. A long ball from Jamie Carragher, playing his 450th Liverpool game, was flicked on by Peter Crouch and, as Paulo Ferreira lost his bearings, Kuyt darted in to finish calmly beyond Cech. It should have been 2-0 three minutes later as John Arne Riise ghosted in behind Geremi but was unable to find the requisite finish on his weaker right foot and Cech saved. The Reds continued to dominate, but Crouch’s touch let him down moments later as Essien left him in acres of space.

The Ghana international made a much better contribution in his makeshift centre-half role when he blocked another Kuyt effort behind in the14th minute. Pennant lashed home a spectacular second in the 18th minute as Liverpool’s dominance was rewarded. Gerrard’s cross was headed half-clear by Essien, but the winger took one touch before launching a dipping 20-yard half-volley to open his Merseyside account via the underside of the crossbar.

Arjen Robben was then forced out of the action having picked up an earlier injury, and was replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips. Steve Finnan got an important foot in to deny Didier Drogba a shot at goal as Chelsea sought a way back into the game, and Michael Ballack headed Frank Lampard’s corner well wide. Crouch’s attempt to outdo Pennant only picked out a stairwell deep in the stand, before Xavi Alonso was taken to the sidelines for a lengthy spell of treatment following an aerial challenge with Drogba.

Chelsea enjoyed an overdue spell of pressure against their 10-man opponents and Geremi’s teasing cross almost picked out Drogba, but Finnan won a crucial header before Fabio Aurelio completed the clearance. Ballack’s ball in then narrowly cleared Lampard before Alonso finally returned to the fray to bring Liverpool back to full strength. Long-range efforts from Lampard – a free-kick – and Drogba then cleared Reina’s crossbar by some distance.

Riise’s excellent ball found Kuyt in acres of space on the right flank as the second half clicked into gear but the Holland frontman’s first touch for once proved hopelessly inadequate. When Finnan eventually delivered a pinpoint cross, Crouch’s header was straight at Cech. At the other end, Gerrard denied Ballack at the expense of a corner from which Drogba headed wide. The rest is history..Why I am so happy for all this? Because I am a ManYoo fan. hehe..
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