Woohoo! What a match! I don’t know how the neutrals liked it. For the Chelsea and Liverpool fans, this was a fantastic match. The last half a dozen matches between these two teams have been cracking encounters. This one did live up to the expectations. We knew that this would be a tactical battle. The sub-plots were absolutely fascinating if you had the eye for it.
Chelsea does produce some of these matches where it’s very hard to pick the man of the match. I’m finding it really tough to name my man of the match. Let me try – Didier Drogba for his double assist performance, John Terry for being the rock against Torres, Anelka for his well-taken goal and being more visible that Drogba in a football match, Michael Essien for shutting down Gerrard and driving our midfield, Ashley Cole for being well . . Ashley Cole, Deco for being the brain behind every Chelsea attack, Carvalho for his famous anticipation and no-nonsense defending that didn’t let Torres into the game . . .
That’s more than half the team that steps up to get the champagne. That’s not to say others didn’t play well. This was a match where there was a hero in each one of them. Lampard, after a poor first half, did pick up later on in the second half. He played a bit deeper allowing Essien to play forward. It was Lampard’s tackle that created our first goal. Ballack had a very good game too. He should have scored with that close range header. Ivanovic started in place of in-form Bosingwa but handled his right back position with ease.
And Hilario! The man’s a legend! I thought Turnbull should have played because of his premier league experience but Hilario was up to it as well. He was pretty confident and assured in whatever he was doing. He could have done better with some of his reflex moves but take nothing away from him. I loved his conviction with which he came out and collected the ball numerous times. And that stopping that Steven Gerrard shot towards the end was just so sweet! More of that, Hilario!
The first goal was a beauty. Lampard’s tackles Mascherano brilliantly. And Essien picks it up and senses a quick opportunity on goal and gives it to Deco. Little man through passes that to Drogba, who from the left hand side, plays a fantastic right-footed low cross to Anelka. And what does he do? Without blinking an eye, stabs it on to the net. Does Anelka have a new passion of scoring against his old clubs? He’s now scored against Arsenal and Liverpool. He’ll score against Bolton in the league cup, against Man City in premier league and Real Madrid in the champions league. Wow! the man with most number of ex-clubs? By the way, is this the most important goal Anelka has ever scored for Chelsea?
I was expecting Drogba to own Carragher. He did that on a few occasions but the one he did for the second goal was class. Drogba wasn’t even at his best today but he made two goals for us. That’s Drogba for you. He is back into his habit of going to the ground a little too easily. On one occasion, JT walked up to him to say ‘get on your feet, big boy’ or something like that. JT has gone on record that he advised Drogba to stop going down so often. Whatever. He created two goals. That’s all I want. He can go take a nap on the pitch if he scores a hattrick.
Let’s not wait to thank Rafa. Tubby helped our cause by not playing Benayoun. That’s one player I fear. I was just hoping that Benayoun and Babel don’t start. Tubby duly supported me there. I would never understand why you’d keep a dangerous Benayoun inside and play Lucas in the starting eleven against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. I hope Rafa does not get sacked for at least the next 10 seasons. Torres was subdued all along. He did turn Ivanovic around in a flash once but that was it. He didn’t do anything that he’s feared for. The Chelsea defence just showed him what Chelsea defence is all about.
Tubby wanted only a 0-0. That’s why their defence played narrow and Johnson didn’t come forward enough. By the way, I didn’t understand why the fans booed GJ? That’s unfair. Until the first goal, Chelsea completely dominated the match, reducing Liverpool to their trademark counterattacks. By the end of first half, the possession stats read 59% for Chelsea, of course, with more shots on and off the target. At half time, I was telling my mate that we’re scoring in the second half and we’re winning this match. I was that confident looking at how Chelsea controlled the match.
I just heard that a hairdryer broker Fergie’s TV. That’s football. No one knows better than you, old man! I know he’d have loved to see a 0-0 draw with no takeaway for either teams. Now with this result, we’re back on top of the table with a lead of 2 clear points. Bear in mind, if Man City win their 2 games in hand, we’d be tied with them.
Ancelotti has passed yet another test. Now for God’s sakes, let’s not compare Lose Failipe and Carletto. Now he’s beaten Man Utd, Tottenham and Liverpool. He knows what he’s doing. He used only one substitute. He didn’t bring in Joe Cole or Zhirkov. He could have but he did not. He has a plan and absolutely knows what he’d doing. Read my last line of the last blog again 
‘Put the scousers out of sight’. Isn’t that what we’ve done? 6 points gap and we’re only in October. Good times are back . . .
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Another great post, BC, keep up the already great work done here!!!
I would just like to add that most of Chelsea’s 11 starters made us proud, we did enough where it counts. Special praises to Essien’s and Terry’s defensive effort. Didier was great at creating those assists. We did not totally outplayed Liverpool at the first half but did enough for the 2 goals to nick the 3 points. It was a performance much needed to reclaim our position as leader for league. And bear in mind we still have Joey and Zhirkov in the bench waiting to pouch when given the chance. Great win for Carlo. I think we are in position to claim the best ever season for Chelsea. KTBFFH!!!!! Great Times ahead!!!
Lovely game. Man of the Match for me had to be Hilario. He really came good. This was one he needed to stand up for and he did so wiv a shout. Proud of the man, I am.
If this was Football Manager – the game, I would have gone, ‘Now, why cant u perform like this every match.’
This game will lift Lampard and our last 2 poor games.Carlo is a wiseman.He will bring greatness to chelsea .Our last 2 games wasnt his falut.Every team will be in a difficult position.
Loved to see Deco back in action..he still has it and it ads some creative play that you dont see in Ballack.If it wasnt for the status I think Malouda would come in for Ballack and not Deco.
All in all a very solid performance…would be hard to pick any player for criticism, although I would still pick Bosingwa over Ivanovic.
But plz guys don´t expect chelsea to play every match like today. These kinds of performances are reserved for big matches only
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Man of the match for me is Hilario. He was fantastic today.
Wow, Chelsea and Jose both stay on the top of the league for atleast 2 weeks, i am in my wonderland this week!
i was at the match today and hilario just gave off a brilliant sense of confidence that cech rarely seems to do lately. He looked twice the goalkeeper during corners i have to say, i’m sure cech will walk back into the side unchallenged (sadly?) but we really do have a great second choice in hilario. A great finger tip save to keep out the long range free kick in the first half two, which seemed to decieve everyone (perhaps he should of been better positioned but he did well to react).
drogba and terry were brilliant too
Nice match, entertaining… Deco was good…u can download the full match here
ftp://93.81.255.198/Chelsea/EPL_2009-2010/8_Round_4_October_(Chelsea_vs_Liverpool)/HQ/
Guys, see check this out…..http://i32.tinypic.com/25gt92b.jpg
If Homer simpson a liverpool fan, he will said.. ” Doh!!”
If Homer simpson a Chelsea fan, he will said.. “Woohoo!!”
Nuff said..
Great performance as a team. We dominated them all over the park for a whole hour. After we got that goal we should have slowed the game more and hold possession. I admit that Liverpool looked dangerous with that much ball around the box. To be honest I thought Deco was poor almost invisible to me bar a few decent passes. 3 slow midfielders starting!!?? I absolutely hate it when Ballack is defending, anyone can run rings around that guy. But whatever, Ancelotti knows his stuff.
KTBFFH
Amazing Picture of Anelka in the middle!!..just the cheer joy on each chelsea fans face makes me smile!
it reminded me of watching us against juventus with essien in the middle in front of mikel with ballack and lampard on the sides
ancelotti knows how badly liverpool use their fullbacks, so he set up a strong midfield that could pass from any range with pin point accuracy. Ballack didnt need to run foward because bosingwa and the strikers could do enough. Deco and ballack set up plays and waited for the ball to come back to set play up again. When things got scrappy, deco pushed foward that extra bit and ballack was a prescence in the box.
I was crying out for malouda to come on. Deco did not please me yesterday and neither did lampard. I thought why is carlo not taking advantage of how poor johnson is defending. The first goal (which drogba crossed from the left….on his left foot actually bc, which makes it even better) came from johnson being beaten, the second goal again, came from johnson being beated, however, i do appreciate, it was a very imaginative shot from malouda and no one saw it quite coming. Florent was positioned in a way that the keeper could not see what he was doing so by the time the ball came in, reina was completely wrong footed
i thought it was quite a bad game, but we came out to do what we didnt do against wigan, win every battle. I t wasn’t in style but as i said, 2 goals, 3 points and a cleansheet, no injuries as well, cant ask for anything more from chelsea
Great result for us, considering the hiccup at wigan and an average performance in UCL
But, honestly from the start of the season i never consider LIVERfools as title contenders, never, they are amazing i can bet even if they get a 10 point lead which they will get in the dream of zombies, they will still conspire to lose.
I consider Manu as the single competitor and Gunners as a very very DARK horse
City might become in seasons to come, they need some time to fire.
Liverpool – Most over hyped team.
He can go take a nap on the pitch if he scores a hattrick. haha classic..
Quoting Gitex
THanks so freaking much, lol
we had a road game yesterday so I didnt get a chance to se the game.
I just saw the game and what a excellent performance from all the players.
MOTM was simple, Michael Essien, god damn what a brilliant game he had. I have been bitching about him lately and he have actually been really poor specially his passes but today (yesterday) he was awesome. absolutely awesome.
our goalie showed his true blue color and looked like a Chelsea regular keeper. Big ups to him.
our defense was superb today. Everyone was ready from the first second till the last. JT Ricky Ashley (he never been better) and the rock himself Branny showed why the whole Europe fear the blues.
The only negative, Lampsy he was really poor in the first played marginally better in the second but he needs to tighten up and stop being soft. I think giving him a rest would do him well, not that he looked tired or weared out but to give him a reminded no one is untouchable. Deco may not have played his best game, but damn we miss his creativity. even though his killer pass didnt always find its target the intention was there. and he have been out for awhile. Ballack did a decent job.
DD exaggerate a little bit but the thing is he got hit on all of those occasionally he went down. PPL say strong lad like him shouldn’t go down that easily but damn I did look for simulation in the match due to all the bleating about DD and I could count a number of times were Nando went down without even getting a hit. the same goes for riera.
I could not understand Rafa´s last substitution. He took out a defender and put in another defender while their were chasing an equalizer. very strange in my book and that sends wrong message to the players.
He was so clueless in the end that he did applaud the fourth official when they fouled Essien lol
Top of the league shalalalalal hey lol
/ktbffh
I agree with u BC, benayoun and babel, but benayoun i fear that guy. essien was great, drogba turner provider ( but it seemed they were kicking after his feet, and he got a bit scared) it hurts when people kick your ankles!.
also wanted to see joe, and yuri, but the plan worked so a next time.
Good game!
return the bridge to the fortress it is!!!
Their name is loserfool, a very apt name!
Well done to the boys! Torres was kept in check by Carva and Terry. Gerrard was kept quiet by Essien. We beat Loserpool and had a great game, even if at times it was just too tight. That however is to be expected in a big game like this. We need to keep our concentration here on in. And i hope we don’t underestimate another Wigan. Henceforth teams will give their all to even draw with us. We will need to be up for a fight with all teams not just the big teams. I hasten to add it’s still early days yet. Blue is the colour!!
I read your last and this post only now, and boy don’t they make sense. Happy to see everyone performing well yet again against a top team, Carlo has shown he’s unlike Scolari, at least for now.