Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2: match report
Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday, April 27, 2014
n the Premier League this season, Mourinho's Chelsea have done the double over City and Liverpool and taken four-point hauls off Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham.
They adopt a rope-a-dope approach, defending in numbers, absorbing the blows before springing out, either seizing on mistakes as Demba Ba did when Steven Gerrard slipped or when Fernando Torres ran 50 yards before squaring for Willian to make it 2-0, sending Mourinho wild in celebration. He clutched the Chelsea crest on his casual club gilet, holding it out towards a group of Liverpool fans, who responded splenetically.
He did not care. He loved this opportunity to introduce the memory of Devon Loch into the thoughts of those who live near the Grand National. Mourinho always seems on a revenge mission when he visits Anfield, never having forgotten the way Liverpool defeated Chelsea with Luis Garcia's "ghost goal" to reach the 2005 Champions League final. The sight of Garcia being presented to the Kop before kick-off will have simply added to Mourinho's resolve.
In the marathon that is the Premier League, Liverpool have hit the wall, a blue wall constructed by Mourinho. Branislav Ivanovic was magnificent at centre-half, dominant in the air and on the ground, ably assisted by Tomas Kalas.
Having represented Chelsea for a minute apiece in the Capital One Cup and Champions League, the 20-year-old Czech international did not betray any nerves on his Premier League debut, helping silence the disappointing Luis Suárez.
Chelsea's full-backs, Cesar Azpilicueta and Ashley Cole, were models of mobile defiance, dealing well in turn with Raheem Sterling and Liverpool's full-backs. Nemanja Matic and John Obi Mikel patrolled diligently in front of the back-four, breaking up Liverpool moves. Frank Lampard was a captain of industry and responsibility, enjoying keeping Gerrard at bay.
André Schürrle was tireless running up and down on the left until cramp slowed his movement. Ba was occasionally ungainly but always relishing his physical battle with Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel.
Individually, Chelsea were excellent in a momentous victory but this was a triumph rooted in collective work under Mourinho at Cobham. In resting the likes of Gary Cahill before the Champions League semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday, Mourinho simply prepared his starting ones so well. He prepared them to spoil the party.
Liverpool fans had been full of hope as the morning melted into milky afternoon sunshine. They lined the streets around Anfield, waiting for the team bus to appear and occasionally bursting into "we're going to win the league".
Ninety minutes before kick-off, the bus inched through the Shankly Gates as fans held their camera-phones to record a moment they hoped would become historic, an entry in the scrapbooks as they seek a first title since 1990.
Brendan Rodgers stepped from the bus, followed by players with emotionless faces. As Gerrard marched through the players' entrance the captain of that 1990 side, Alan Hansen, strolled through the main entrance. The Liverpool family was gathering as usual. Ian Rush, John Aldridge and Kenny Dalglish also walked in. Luis Garcia was special guest. The Kop launched into You'll Never Walk Alone. It all seemed set for another Liverpool win, a 12th on the spin, another case of Gerrard's "we go again".
Not here. Not with Mourinho in town. Chelsea's players were ready and waiting, their ambush primed, their game-plan inelegant but effective: to draw the sting from the usual early Liverpool storm. They actually pressed hard, refusing to allow Gerrard and company to settle. They wasted time. Ivanovic probably set an all-comers' record for early running down the clock after 1min 25sec.
Mourinho's own early attempts at time-wasting were ended by Jon Flanagan and Gerrard, who grabbed the ball off him. Chelsea were in uncompromising mood. Cole escaped censure for clearing out Suárez, leading with his arm.
Every Chelsea player contributed to the defensive work through fair means and foul. Ba covered back to block a left-footed Suárez shot. Lampard brought down Sterling. Ivanovic made two vital clearances.
Chelsea were also increasingly threatening going forward. Cole raced down the left, flinging in a cross that Simon Mignolet pushed away. Lampard curled in a corner that Kalas headed wide before kicking the post in frustration as the Kop sighed in relief. Chelsea seized the lead on the cusp of half-time. The wound to Liverpool's ambition was self-inflicted. Sakho rolled the ball square to Gerrard, who was central as usual, preparing to build another attack.
Gerrard took the ball and turned but slipped, gifting possession to the lurking Ba. The striker sped towards the Kop, controlling the ball with his right foot before placing it firmly under Mignolet and in.
As Chelsea celebrated, the Kop immediately sang in support of their rueful captain. Chelsea fans reminded Gerrard that he had previous with such errors against them, notably with an own goal in the 2005 Carling Cup final and in the Premier League in 2010 when his back-pass was intercepted by Didier Drogba who scored, helping Chelsea eventually beat Manchester United to the title.
This was a test of Liverpool's resolve but they were tired in mind and body. Azpilicueta stopped a Sterling run. Cole thwarted Glen Johnson. Ivanovic ushered Gerrard into a cul-de-sac. On it went. Schwarzer comfortably held a couple of Gerrard shots and saved a Joe Allen volley.
Chelsea were giving everything. Schürrle looked shattered but he kept running, even testing Mignolet with a curling shot, before collapsing with cramp and eventually replaced by Gary Cahill as Chelsea switched to a back-five. Cahill blocked Sterling's way to goal. Cole nicked the ball off Johnson.
And there was another sting in the tail as Mourinho's subs combined: Torres sprinted through and calmly squared the ball to Willian, who confirmed that the title race is now a thrilling three-way affair.
ose Mourinho can change his line-up, change his mood and change his wardrobe but what rarely changes is his remarkable ability to keep setting his team up so adroitly against the heavyweights.
Love him or loathe him, he remains the man for the big occasion, a ruthless prize-fighter in the points game. Cantankerous and calculating, Mourinho is still the special tactical one, totally changing the Premier League picture here.
Manchester City are now favourites for the title, after a 2-0 win atCrystal Palace which still leaves them third but with a game in hand and a point behind Chelsea and three behind leaders Liverpool. City also boast a superior goal difference. Liverpool could be third when they play next.
Mourinho played down Chelsea's chances but nobody was listening. This is a real three-way title chase, the first genuine such race for years, and Chelsea have every chance of winning it.
Mourinho dressed down for the big occasion here, resembling one of Del Boy's sporting-fashion suppliers, but his teams are cloaked in intelligence, knowing the game-plan, rigidly drilled defensively and skilled at the potent counter. It is far from beautiful but it is effective.
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In the Premier League this season, Mourinho's Chelsea have done the double over City and Liverpool and taken four-point hauls off Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham.
They adopt a rope-a-dope approach, defending in numbers, absorbing the blows before springing out, either seizing on mistakes as Demba Ba did when Steven Gerrard slipped or when Fernando Torres ran 50 yards before squaring for Willian to make it 2-0, sending Mourinho wild in celebration. He clutched the Chelsea crest on his casual club gilet, holding it out towards a group of Liverpool fans, who responded splenetically.
He did not care. He loved this opportunity to introduce the memory of Devon Loch into the thoughts of those who live near the Grand National. Mourinho always seems on a revenge mission when he visits Anfield, never having forgotten the way Liverpool defeated Chelsea with Luis Garcia's "ghost goal" to reach the 2005 Champions League final. The sight of Garcia being presented to the Kop before kick-off will have simply added to Mourinho's resolve.
In the marathon that is the Premier League, Liverpool have hit the wall, a blue wall constructed by Mourinho. Branislav Ivanovic was magnificent at centre-half, dominant in the air and on the ground, ably assisted by Tomas Kalas.
Having represented Chelsea for a minute apiece in the Capital One Cup and Champions League, the 20-year-old Czech international did not betray any nerves on his Premier League debut, helping silence the disappointing Luis Suárez.
Chelsea's full-backs, Cesar Azpilicueta and Ashley Cole, were models of mobile defiance, dealing well in turn with Raheem Sterling and Liverpool's full-backs. Nemanja Matic and John Obi Mikel patrolled diligently in front of the back-four, breaking up Liverpool moves. Frank Lampard was a captain of industry and responsibility, enjoying keeping Gerrard at bay.
André Schürrle was tireless running up and down on the left until cramp slowed his movement. Ba was occasionally ungainly but always relishing his physical battle with Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel.
Individually, Chelsea were excellent in a momentous victory but this was a triumph rooted in collective work under Mourinho at Cobham. In resting the likes of Gary Cahill before the Champions League semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday, Mourinho simply prepared his starting ones so well. He prepared them to spoil the party.
Liverpool fans had been full of hope as the morning melted into milky afternoon sunshine. They lined the streets around Anfield, waiting for the team bus to appear and occasionally bursting into "we're going to win the league".
Ninety minutes before kick-off, the bus inched through the Shankly Gates as fans held their camera-phones to record a moment they hoped would become historic, an entry in the scrapbooks as they seek a first title since 1990.
Brendan Rodgers stepped from the bus, followed by players with emotionless faces. As Gerrard marched through the players' entrance the captain of that 1990 side, Alan Hansen, strolled through the main entrance. The Liverpool family was gathering as usual. Ian Rush, John Aldridge and Kenny Dalglish also walked in. Luis Garcia was special guest. The Kop launched into You'll Never Walk Alone. It all seemed set for another Liverpool win, a 12th on the spin, another case of Gerrard's "we go again".
Not here. Not with Mourinho in town. Chelsea's players were ready and waiting, their ambush primed, their game-plan inelegant but effective: to draw the sting from the usual early Liverpool storm. They actually pressed hard, refusing to allow Gerrard and company to settle. They wasted time. Ivanovic probably set an all-comers' record for early running down the clock after 1min 25sec.
Mourinho's own early attempts at time-wasting were ended by Jon Flanagan and Gerrard, who grabbed the ball off him. Chelsea were in uncompromising mood. Cole escaped censure for clearing out Suárez, leading with his arm.
Every Chelsea player contributed to the defensive work through fair means and foul. Ba covered back to block a left-footed Suárez shot. Lampard brought down Sterling. Ivanovic made two vital clearances.
Chelsea were also increasingly threatening going forward. Cole raced down the left, flinging in a cross that Simon Mignolet pushed away. Lampard curled in a corner that Kalas headed wide before kicking the post in frustration as the Kop sighed in relief. Chelsea seized the lead on the cusp of half-time. The wound to Liverpool's ambition was self-inflicted. Sakho rolled the ball square to Gerrard, who was central as usual, preparing to build another attack.
Gerrard took the ball and turned but slipped, gifting possession to the lurking Ba. The striker sped towards the Kop, controlling the ball with his right foot before placing it firmly under Mignolet and in.
As Chelsea celebrated, the Kop immediately sang in support of their rueful captain. Chelsea fans reminded Gerrard that he had previous with such errors against them, notably with an own goal in the 2005 Carling Cup final and in the Premier League in 2010 when his back-pass was intercepted by Didier Drogba who scored, helping Chelsea eventually beat Manchester United to the title.
This was a test of Liverpool's resolve but they were tired in mind and body. Azpilicueta stopped a Sterling run. Cole thwarted Glen Johnson. Ivanovic ushered Gerrard into a cul-de-sac. On it went. Schwarzer comfortably held a couple of Gerrard shots and saved a Joe Allen volley.
Chelsea were giving everything. Schürrle looked shattered but he kept running, even testing Mignolet with a curling shot, before collapsing with cramp and eventually replaced by Gary Cahill as Chelsea switched to a back-five. Cahill blocked Sterling's way to goal. Cole nicked the ball off Johnson.
And there was another sting in the tail as Mourinho's subs combined: Torres sprinted through and calmly squared the ball to Willian, who confirmed that the title race is now a thrilling three-way affair.
LIVE COMMENTRY By Henry Winter, Football Correspondent, at Anfield
4:20PM BST 27 Apr 2014
can change his line-up, change his mood and change his wardrobe but what rarely changes is his remarkable ability to keep setting his team up so adroitly against the heavyweights.
Love him or loathe him, he remains the man for the big occasion, a ruthless prize-fighter in the points game. Cantankerous and calculating, Mourinho is still the special tactical one, totally changing the Premier League picture here.
Manchester City are now favourites for the title, after a 2-0 win atCrystal Palace which still leaves them third but with a game in hand JOSE MOURINHO and a point behind Chelsea and three behind leaders Liverpool. City also boast a superior goal difference. Liverpool could be third when they play next.
Mourinho played down Chelsea's chances but nobody was listening. This is a real three-way title chase, the first genuine such race for years, and Chelsea have every chance of winning it.
Mourinho dressed down for the big occasion here, resembling one of Del Boy's sporting-fashion suppliers, but his teams are cloaked in intelligence, knowing the game-plan, rigidly drilled defensively and skilled at the potent counter. It is far from beautiful but it is effective
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