Relief poured out at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea survived a nervous final 16
minutes to restake their title claims against a Liverpool side fatally wounded
by suicidal first-half defending.
In those opening 45 minutes, Chelsea finally refound the passion and style
which ignited their challenge earlier this season and were hardly flattered by a
2-0 lead.
Liverpool's defence, which had appeared to be strengthened over recent weeks,
was quite simply dreadful as Phil Babb gifted an early penalty, which was
converted by Frank Leboeuf, and Bjarne Goldbaek was left in acres of space to
volley home the second.
Perhaps it was the recently relaid pitch, which the players had demanded after
divots and mud had hampered their passing game, which inspired them, even though
there were still bobbles aplenty.
Goldbaek and Dan Petrescu, so often the unsung heroes at Stamford Bridge, were
both in sparkling form, while the return of Tore Andre Flo up front sharpened
Chelsea's attacking thrust.
But Liverpool were more determined after the break and after Michael Owen's
76th-minute strike, it was the home side who were left grimly hanging on for
victory in the closing stages.
So the Reds' abysmal record of not having won at Stamford Bridge for 10 years
continued and they were behind within just six minutes of the kick-off on this
occasion.
Babb appeared to punch the ball clear after a cross by Zola had been deflected
into the air and despite the Irishman's desperate insistence that he had been
pushed, referee Paul Durkin pointed to the spot without hesitation.
Leboeuf kept his nerve, after missing his first spot-kick in 16 attempts only
10 days ago against Blackburn, to calmly slot the ball past David James.
Liverpool's urgent response was to change their formation from 5-3-2 to 4-4-2
with Steve McManaman being brought on to replace Vegard Heggem and Bjorn Tore
Kvarme switching to right-back.
But soon afterwards, Zola almost doubled Chelsea's advantage when he
instinctively lobbed James on the turn after a flick-on by Petrescu only for the
ball to drop just over the bar.
For the next 15 minutes, Liverpool finally managed to exert some pressure on
Chelsea and pushed forward with style and promise.
McManaman cut inside dangerously only to shoot straight at Ed De Goey, Paul
Ince's header hit the side-netting and Robbie Fowler blasted a first-time shot
way over after a weak clearance fell to him on the edge of the area.
The best chance of all, though, fell to Michael Owen as the striker raced
clear onto Jamie Redknapp's precision pass through the heart of the Chelsea
defence.
De Goey was out quickly enough to smother the striker's shot and even though
Leboeuf was forced to limp off to be replaced by Bernard Lambourde, that was the
last sight of any Liverpool attacking promise before the break.
The second goal duly came after Goldbaek was left unmarked in acres of space
at the far post to meet a cross from Petrescu with a first-time volley under
James's body.
Not surprisingly, Zola was involved in the build-up, producing a sublime
back-flick to set Petrescu clear down the right wing but even Goldbaek must have
been surprised at the complete lack of marking by Liverpool.
James then had to be alert to rush out and smother the ball as Flo beat the
visitors' excuse for an offside trap, while only Zola's surprising lack of
control prevented him being left in the clear a minute later.
Just before the break, it was the post which saved Liverpool as this time
Petrescu was left unmarked at the far post and his volley struck the upright
from close-range.
Liverpool were forced to reshuffle again after the break, with Ince limping
off to be replaced by Jean Michel Ferri on his debut, but they were gradually
starting to make an impact on the game.
They remained vulnerable to the break, with Di Matteo flashing one drive just
wide and only a superb last-ditch tackle by Dominic Matteo preventing Petrescu
from scoring after being put clear by Goldbaek.
Graeme Le Saux and Fowler clashed throughout but Owen embodied the renewed
spirit within his side.
He left Albert Ferrer rooted to the spot with one twist and turn of pace
before failing to pick out Fowler with his ensuing cross.
But after Chelsea had threatened again through Zola, it was Owen who put the
Reds back into the game as he seized on a chance just inside the penalty area to
toe-poke a shot past De Goey.
From then on, Liverpool threw men forward desperately, with Karlheinz Riedle
joining the fray, as they went in search of an undeserved equaliser.
Still vulnerable at the back, they could have been punished again by a Di
Matteo free-kick which sailed over and James had to race out to head clear as
substitute Mikael Forssell threatened.
The prospect of three minutes of injury-time brought nervous glances at
watches from the Stamford Bridge faithful but their renewed defensive resolve
was enough to see them through.
Teams
Chelsea: De Goey, Ferrer, Desailly, Leboeuf (Lambourde 33),
Le Saux (Newton 82), Petrescu, Morris, Di Matteo, Goldbaek,
Flo (Forssell 86), Zola.
Subs Not Used: Hitchcock, Nicholls.
Booked: Le Saux.
Goals: Leboeuf 7 pen, Goldbaek 38.
Liverpool: James, Heggem (McManaman 9), Kvarme, Matteo, Babb,
Bjornebye, Berger (Riedle 80), Redknapp, Ince (Ferri 48), Owen, Fowler.
Subs Not Used: Staunton, Friedel.
Booked: Fowler.
Goals: Owen 77.
Att: 34,822
Ref: P Durkin (Portland).
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