Premiership - Liverpool Away 1st February 2009 0-1

[Alan]

Apologies for the lack of a Boro match report, Uni has been very hectic recently. Here's my take on yesterday's shambles.

Late Torres Double Sees Off Limp and Lifeless Chelsea

By Alan McGuinness

A late Fernando Torres double saw off a poor Chelsea side and kept Liverpool on the heels of league leaders Manchester United.

The Spanish striker struck twice in quick succession after Frank Lampard was harshly sent off for Chelsea.

But the sending off didn't mask Chelsea's ineffective performance - they had only a solitary shot on target throughout the whole match.

They had most of the games early possession but it was the hosts who had the most significant efforts on target in a first period that failed to sparkle.

Xabi Alonso forced Cech into a brilliant save with his powerful effort after 12 minutes. Six minutes later he was again called into action, this time by Javier Mascherano. The Argentine's effort was parried away by the Czech stopper.

Mascherano found himself in the referees notebook just a minute later after a series of niggly fouls.

Ashley Cole then became Chelsea's first recipient of a yellow card after bringing down Dirk Kuyt.

Cech was again called into action just after 25 minutes, smothering a Steven Gerrard shot with Kuyt close by.

John Terry then did well to block a Torres shot on goal.

At the other end of the pitch Chelsea were creating very little, with Salomon Kalou, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka unable to keep a hold of the ball, let alone fashion any clear cut openings.

Brazilian defender Alex had Chelsea's most significant effort of the first half, sending a header over Pepe Reina's goal from a Frank Lampard corner.

Albert Reira's 42nd minute shot almost broke the deadlock when it hit Ashley Cole from Cech's parry, but thankfully for the England man the ball rolled wide of the post.

The red attacking tide continued into the second half. Kuyt sent the ball wide of the post and Alex - who was one Chelsea's only stand out performers - blocked a Torres shot.

Then on the hour mark Lampard received a straight red card for a studs up, sliding tackle on Xabi Alonso. The tackle seemed fair enough with the England midfielder appearing to win the ball. But to the astonishment of the Chelsea players, referee Mike Riley reached into his pocket and produced a red card.

The bemused expression on Frank Lampard's face said it all.

Alonso almost gave Liverpool the lead moments later, his shot struck Alex and looped over Cech but the ball hit the cross bar and Chelsea's keeper was able to knock the ball over to safety.

Chelsea needed some fresh legs to inject some life into a limp performance and Luiz Felipe Scolari sent on Didier Drogba and Deco in an attempt to provide it. The limpness continued. Deco and Drogba continuously lost possession and Liverpool began to lay siege to their opponents goal.

Mikel deflected another Torres effort over before Kalou had Chelsea's only effort on target - an angled shot that was comfortable for Reina.

Substitute Yossi Benayoun then had two shots as Liverpool continued to find Chelsea's strong rearguard action tough to break down.

Two minutes from time they finally found a way through. Fabio Aurelio played in a cross from the left wing and Torres beat Alex to the ball, and Cech at his near post.

The mercurial Spaniard doubled his tally in stoppage time, profiting from some slack defending from Ashley Cole. The left back carelessly gave possession away to Benayoun and the ball found its way to Torres, who completed the simplest of finishes.

There was a sour moment in the closing stages of the game when Jose Bosingwa needlessly dug his studs into Benayoun's back near the corner flag. The defender could well face retrospective action from the FA.

Liverpool's hopes of a first league title since 1990 remain very much alive, while Chelsea are left to count the cost of another disappointing performance against one of the 'Big Four'.

[mad_mac]

Sorry Alan, don't think you stated how much of a c*nt Riley was

[Backbiter]

Sorry Alan, don't think you stated how much of a c*nt Riley was

And the report lacks sufficent condemnation of Gerrard to be any where near accurate.

[ethicalstrategy]

Apologies for the lack of a Boro match report, Uni has been very hectic recently. Here's my take on yesterday's shambles.

Sorry Alan, but if you're going to make it as a journo you just can't afford to keep missing those deadlines :)

[Alan]

Sorry Alan, but if you're going to make it as a journo you just can't afford to keep missing those deadlines :lol:

Yeah yeah I know :P

The amount of work I had to last week was insane. Radio packages, Sky News Scholarship treatment paper, test and interview and also a 30 minute presentation.

Somehow I managed to sleep :)