In stark contrast to the fluency of the win against Spartak Moscow, Liverpool made hard work of beating Chelsea at Anfield. A late goal from Michael Owen kept the Reds on the coat tails of Arsenal in a performance that can only be described as laboured.
Gerard Houllier named the same side that lined up last Wednesday, with Milan Baros again having to sit it out on the bench as Owen and Heskey were favoured up front. Chelsea made two changes from the side that was humiliated in the UEFA Cup, with Desailly and Melchiot making speedy recoveries from the injuries that had prevented them from playing in Norway.
The game got off to a slow start with Chelsea happy to play the offside trap every time Liverpool went forward. The first danger to the Reds came on 11 minutes when Henchoz brought down Stanic, but Zola struck the resultant free kick high and wide. Two minutes later Gallas went close with a long range effort that went just over Dudek's crossbar. These efforts woke up the previously silent Chelsea support and they came up with the highly original song of 'In your Liverpool slums'.
Liverpool then began to get into the game a bit more but the first real attempt on goal didn't come til the 24th minute when Gerrard shot disappointingly wide from the edge of the box. Soon after this there was a rare moment of wing wizardry from Jamie Carragher when he stormed past Stanic. But in the excitement of emulating Heighway or Barnes he caught a nosebleed and sliced his cross high into the Kop.
Liverpool's best effort came six minutes before half time from one of the most unlikely sources. Sami Hyypia, who isn't unknown to score with his head, decided to try something different and let fly with a half volley from 30 yards. Cuddicini was caught completely unaware, but the Chelsea keeper managed to palm the ball over the bar. But there was bad news when Henchoz had to go off, having aggravated his calf strain whilst making a tackle that helped set up Hyypia's shot. He was replaced by Djimi Traore.
In the final minute before half time the lack of cohesion amongst Liverpool's players was demonstrated perfectly when Heskey put in a cross from the right, only for Owen and Cheyrou to fall over each other as they attempted to get to the ball.
Houllier made no changes at half time but Chelsea sent on Gudjonsen and Morris for Hasselbaink and Stanic. Seven minutes in, Liverpool again went close from distance. Hamman's free kick was blocked but only as far as Gerrard, who let fly from well outside the box. It looked a certain goal but Cuddicini got the slightest of touches to divert the ball onto the crossbar. At the other end, Chelsea were looking more sprightly now that the lethargic Hasselbaink had gone off and on the hour mark had their best chance to score. A brilliant through ball by Petit sent Zola through but Dudek was quick out of his goal to smother the ball from the feet of the diminutive Italian.
With twenty minutes remaining Houllier sent on Baros for Cheyrou with Heskey switching to the left. The appearance of the young Czech immediately upped the tempo of the Reds play and he nearly scored with his first involvement in the game. Picking the ball up in his own half, he released Owen on the right before making a surging run towards the area. Owen's cross was perfect but Cuddicini got to the ball just before Baros did.
With fifteen minutes left Liverpool made their final substitution when Salif Diao replaced Danny Murphy. But it was Baros who was making the biggest impact on the game and he should have scored with twelve minutes remaining. After receiving a pass from Carragher, he skipped past Desailly as if he wasn't there but from the corner of the six yard box, inexplicably blasted over.
With time ticking away there seemed to be no way through for the Reds but as with last years game against Chelsea, patience was rewarded. Diao put Heskey through. He managed to lift the ball over the advancing Cuddicini but it agonisingly hit the post. However Owen was there to bundle the ball home from all of one yard and send the crowd wild. It may not have been the prettiest of wins but they all count. After the last minute equalisers by Newcastle and Birmingham it was nice to see the pendulum swing our way.
Claudio Ranieri claimed Chelsea were unlucky but for all their hard work, they didn't have a single shot on target. Liverpool weren't as fluent as in previous games but this was the first stern test this season in the league. We have come through it and remain unbeaten and just two points off the top.
Team: Jerzy Dudek; Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Stephane Henchoz (Djimi Traore), John Arne Riise; Danny Murphy (Salif Diao), Steven Gerrard, Bruno Cheyrou (Milan Baros); Emile Heskey, Michael Owen:
