Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1

Chelsea's hopes that 50 million pound record signing Fernando Torres would become an instant hero lasted only 66 minutes.

He was substituted at Stamford Bridge and could only watch as his former club Liverpool scored a famous 1-0 victory.

A goal from Raul Meireles after 69 minutes gave Kenny Dalglish's side a stunning and deserved victory leaving Liverpool fans to sing 'you should have stayed at a big club' as Torres looked on from the bench.

Earlier Torres had been given a rousing reception by Chelsea fans and booed by the visitors after moving to London from Anfield in a shock transfer deadline day deal.

But the Spaniard looked out of sorts and out of form as he barely touched the ball all match, wasting two good chances before being hauled off in favour of Salomon Kalou.

By that time Meireles had won the game for resurgent Liverpool, firing home a Steven Gerrard cross to seal a result that takes Liverpool up to sixth and leaves Chelsea hanging onto fourth, tied on points with Spurs, and now 10 points adrift of the leaders.

WELCOME HOME ALBERTO

WELCOME TO LIVERPOOL FC

"wish you reach your highest career level here"

Gerrard wants Liverpool to spend big to boost title prospects

Written by: AFP
2008-05-14 04:43:33

	Steven Gerrard (seen here on April 22) admits Liverpool will only challenge for the Premier League title next season if Rafa Benitez spends big money. Gerrard is desperate to make up for another disappointing domestic campaign after Benitez´s side slipped out of the title race by Christmas and finished nine points behind champions Manchester United.

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Steven Gerrard admits Liverpool will only challenge for the Premier League title next season if Rafa Benitez spends big money.

Gerrard is desperate to make up for another disappointing domestic campaign after Benitez's side slipped out of the title race by Christmas and finished nine points behind champions Manchester United.

Gerrard knows that gap won't be closed unless Benitez is given substantial backing from the Anfield board to bring in several world-class players.

Benitez has already met Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks to draw up a transfer battle plan, with Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry and Borussia Dortmund defender Philip Degn on his wanted list, but Gerrard wants more investment from the Anfield hierarchy.

"Obviously I have to be careful that I don't send expectations through the roof again, but for me I am desperate for it (a title challenge). I believe in this team and this manager and believe we can make it happen," Gerrard said.

"We need help and new players and the manager needs help from the board to make these signings happen and make us stronger.

"I don't know much about Rafa's transfer plans. He doesn't call me in and tell me names.

"But he does assure me and the other players that if anyone becomes available who would strengthen the side, then he will go out and buy them. It's important Rafa gets the right backing above him as well.

"Sometimes you have to realise there are other sides that are as good as us who are strengthening and working hard as well. They want it just as much as us.

"But it has been a long time for this club (since winning the league), so we all maybe need to give that extra five or 10 per cent.

"It's difficult to say how many world-class players we need. You look at the points difference and over the last few years we have made it smaller.

"Playing against the Arsenals and Chelsea, it has been close. We are giving them good games which are tight and get decided on small details."

The close-season in England has often been a difficult time for Gerrard while rumours fly that he is set to leave. Inter Milan are this year's front runners to sign the Liverpool captain if reports are to be believed, but he insists he has no plans to quit.

"I'm happy here and enjoying my football. Obviously I am not happy ending the season without a trophy because I am a winner and that is what I play the game for," he said.

"I like finishing the season having a trophy or cup final to look back on and seeing I've achieved something.

"The experiences I've had at this club in Istanbul (when they beat AC Milan to capture the Champions League), Cardiff and so on - I want these again because I've enjoyed them so much."

England National Champion Reserve (North v South Play-off final) : Liverpool FC 3-0 Aston Villa

RESERVES CROWNED NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Paul Hassall at Anfield 07 May 2008

Liverpool Reserves have been crowned National Champions after powering to a resounding victory over Aston Villa in an entertaining play-off final at Anfield.

Gary Ablett's men produced the type of performance typical of their all-conquering campaign, combining attractive, flowing football with some gutsy, determined defending to clinch a 3-0 win courtesy of goals from Krisztian Nemeth, Jordy Brouwer and Lucas Leiva.

It caps a remarkable season for the Reds' second string, who can now add the national title to both the Dallas Cup and the Northern Division championship, to complete what is a superb cup treble.

On a rare sun-drenched evening at Anfield, it was Villa who settled the quicker of the two sides, but for all their good approach play Liverpool manufactured the game's first real moment of note when Krisztian Nemeth's cute back heel was deflected away by the last-ditch boot of Isaiah Osbourne, to deny Lucas a clear run at goal.

The Brazilian was in the side in place of the injured Jay Spearing and provided some South American rhythm at the centre of the park against Kevin McDonald's experienced Villa outfit that included first-teamers such as Stuart Taylor, Wayne Routledge, Shaun Maloney and Marlon Harewood.

In truth, the visitors enjoyed the majority of the possession throughout an entertaining first-half and went close through Chris Herd's 20-yard snap shot before the hosts took the lead courtesy of a familiar marksmen.

The lively Nabil El Zhar ran at the heart of the Villa defence and fed a neat ball through to Jordy Brouwer who in turn laid an instant flick to Nemeth on the right, with the Hungarian showing great composure to flash a shot from just inside the penalty area into the far corner to give Liverpool the perfect start.

It was a magnificent team goal and all the more fitting that the yellow-booted forward was the man on target, having been irrepressible in front of goal throughout a superb season with the reserves.

It gave the Reds the lift they needed and El Zhar drilled a long range strike over the cross bar before Jordy Brouwer wasted a great chance to double the home side's advantage on 24 minutes.

Ryan Flynn showed great determination to outpace his marker and fire in a dangerous cross from the left and although no one was on hand to finish off his superb wing play, El Zhar took up the baton on the far right and surged beyond Nathan Baker before cutting the ball back to Brouwer who side-footed a weak effort straight at Taylor from eight yards out.

However, it was as good as it got for the Reds in the first period and Villa began to dominate the proceedings as they pushed forward in search of the equaliser.

The first opportunity for the visitors to level fell to Marlon Harwood, who had already scored at Anfield during a 2-2 draw against Rafael Benitez's senior side earlier in the season, and he will feel he should have repeated that feat on 26 minutes, after lashing a fierce 25-yard strike just over Peter Gulacsi's crossbar.

The pace of Routledge was a cause for concern for Gary Ablett's men throughout the match and just seconds later Villa had carved Liverpool open down the right once again, but this time Herd somehow contrived to hit the post from 10 yards out after Harwood and Moloney combined to put him clear.

The Reds continued to look a threat on the counter-attack but it was the away side who again went closest to scoring prior to the interval when Mikel San Jose reacted brilliantly to clear Maloney's stabbed effort off the line after Gulacsi had dropped Routledge's right-wing cross.

It was a similar story after the break too, but Villa's fortune in front of goal continued to desert them as proved on 57 minutes when Moustapha Salifou saw his long range volley crash back off the crossbar with Gulacsi well beaten.

El Zhar and Nemeth offered some brief respite for the Reds rearguard with the former seeing his run and shot well blocked before the latter stung the fingertips of Taylor with a rasping 25-yard drive.

With both sides creating a series of good openings, something had to give, and after Maloney wasted a glorious chance to pull the Villains level, Liverpool struck the killer blow on 66 minutes.

Emiliano Insua won the ball deep in Villa territory allowing Nemeth to seize on the loose ball and play in Brouwer, who raced into the penalty area before hammering the ball, low into the bottom left-hand corner to send the Kop into raptures.

It was a strike that seemed to deflate the away side and on 76 minutes the Reds wrapped up victory when substitute Daniel Pacheco's delightfully disguised pass sent Lucas clear and the Brazilian made no mistake to ensure the 7,580 supporters packed into Anfield went home happy.

Liverpool Reserves: Gulacsi, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Huth, Plessis, El Zhar (Simon 86), Lucas, Brouwer (Pacheco 73), Nemeth (Lindfield 80), Flynn. Unused subs: Bouzanis, Kelly, Simon.

Aston Villa Reserves: Taylor, Lund (Bannan 74), Baker (Delfouneso 46), Osbourne, Clark, Lowry, Salifou, Routledge, Harewood, Herd, Maloney (Albrighton 77). Unused subs: Bevan, Collins.

Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Krisztian Nemeth. A classy forward who once again showed his promise with a superb goal and a clever assist.

Attendance: 7,580

THE REDS 08/09 HOME KITS

RAFA WARY OF DROGBA THREATRICS

Written by: AFP
2008-04-27 14:11:34

	Chelsea´s Ivorian forward Didier Drogba celebrates during the UEFA Champions League semi-final match against Liverpool at Anfield on April 22. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez said he would be calling on officials to keep a close eye on Drogba´s theatrics in their midweek Champions League semi-final second leg at Chelsea.

LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez said Sunday he would be calling on officials to keep a close eye on Didier Drogba's theatrics in their midweek Champions League semi-final second leg at Chelsea.

Benitez believes Blues striker Drogba goes down far too easily.

"With Drogba, it's important to have a good referee," the Spaniard said.

"You can't do anything, but I will say it because it was so clear. He is amazing because he is massive.

"It's very impressive. I have a lot of clips of him from over the years and he surprises me. After four years, I expected it."

Benitez said he had compiled clips of Drogba during Liverpool's many matches against Chelsea since he became manager.

The Spaniard was unhappy at what he perceives as preferential treatment for the striker at Anfield in Tuesday night's first leg which ended 1-1.

"We've played against Chelsea 19 games and every time I have collected some clips of Drogba," Benitez explained.

"I have shown them to some of the players. I think that (Martin) Skrtel and Carra (Jamie Carragher) were really good against him the other day, the only problem was the referee was giving fouls. And it was not the same with (Fernando) Torres."

CHELSEA LUCK

Written by: AFP

	Liverpool´s Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio(R) and Chelsea´s English midfielder Joe Cole compete for the ball during their UEFA Champions League semi-final football match at Anfield. The match ended on a 1-1 draw.

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Chelsea snatched a Champions League lifeline as Liverpool defender John Arne Riise's last-gasp own goal allowed Avram Grant's side to escape with a 1-1 draw from Tuesday's semi-final first leg.

Liverpool had dominated after taking the lead through Dirk Kuyt just before half-time at Anfield but they failed to press home that advantage.

Petr Cech produced three superb saves to keep out Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard and Chelsea were able to make Rafa Benitez's team pay in the final minute of stoppage time when Riise headed into his own net.

After suffering semi-final exits at Anfield in two of the last three seasons, the Blues will have left Merseyside feeling luck was on their side at last.

They lost to Luis Garcia's 'phantom goal' in 2005 and were beaten on penalties last season.

Now, bolstered by a precious away goal their tepid display hardly deserved, Chelsea will believe they can avenge those bitter memories and finish the job at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.

It was fitting that a tie with so much emnity propelling the participants should take place to the backdrop of the power struggle between Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Hicks had been advised to stay away for his own safety but defiantly took his place in the Anfield directors box.

The Kop made their feelings known with a series of anti-Hicks chants but were soon creating a wall of sound to intimidate Chelsea rather than the American tycoon.

The crowd's frenzied passion didn't inspire many fireworks on the pitch early on though. Goals are at a premium whenever these obdurate sides meet in Europe and it was a typically tenative start.

Liverpool threatened to break the stalemate first. Kuyt raced onto Xabi Alonso's long pass, only for the Dutchman's poor chest control to let Ricardo Carvalho and Cech clear the danger.

Chelsea's Joe Cole had a sight of goal when Frank Lampard, back after spending time with his ill mother, picked out the England winger in the penalty area. Cole's tame volley didn't do justice to the sublime pass.

Didier Drogba appealed for a penalty when he tumbled under Jamie Carragher's tackle. Carragher missed the ball but the challenge was just outside the area and referee Konrad Plautz waved away Drogba's protests.

When Steven Gerrard's defence-splitting pass put Fernando Torres clean through, Anfield rose in expectation of yet another decisive contribution from the Spaniard. For once Torres was frustrated as Cech made a superb stop.

Gradually Liverpool began to turn the screw and their relentless pressing played a key role in Kuyt's 43rd minute opener after Chelsea were unhinged by Alonso's quick free-kick.

Kuyt robbed Lampard on the edge of the area and Javier Mascherano took a swipe at the loose ball. The Argentine's miscued effort should have been cleared but Claude Makelele rashly jumped in front of Ashley Cole and Kuyt was able to pounce, sliding his shot under Cech.

Liverpool were grateful for the gift but it was a shambolic goal to concede and summed up Chelsea's confused display.

Grant's inspirational qualities have been questioned constantly this season and now was the moment for the Israeli to lift his side. Yet they emerged after half-time just as flat as before.

Liverpool winger Ryan Babel caused chaos in the Chelsea defence as he surged past Paulo Ferreira and whipped in a low cross that led to a blocked Torres shot.

Babel was a constant danger and went close in the 60th minute with a dipping half-volley that flashed past Cech's far post.

Chelsea finally stirred when Michael Ballack met Lampard's free-kick with a glancing header which Jose Reina held well.

Florent Malouda had a much better chance moments later as he took Lampard's pass and cut inside Alvaro Arbeloa. Just as Malouda was about to pull the trigger, Mascherano slid in with a crucial block.

Gerrard forced a brilliant one-handed tip-over from Cech in the closing minutes as Liverpool strove to take total control of the tie.

Cech then denied Torres with another fine stop at his near post and Chelsea took full advantage.

With virtually the last kick of the game, Salomon Kalou swung in a cross from the left and Riise, diving to head clear, succeeded only in diverting the ball into his own net.

Anfield fell silent as Liverpool were left to wonder if they would rue those missed chances.