Liverpool thump struggling Portsmouth

Sports - Football - Premier League - Match Report

Liverpool 4-1 Portsmouth

Liverpool recorded their seventh consecutive home win on their 118th anniversary against rock-bottom Portsmouth.

The win takes the Reds up to fifth, one point ahead of Manchester City and one behind Tottenham, who both have games in hand, two and one respectively, in the race for the fourth and last Champions League qualification place.

Rafa's usual favourites Dirk Kuyt and Lucas Leiva started on the bench for Liverpool and were not much missed on the night.

Liverpool looked sloppy and shaky again in the opening 20 minutes though, wasting good build-ups and chances high or wide.

However, once broken, Portsmouth caved in conceding three goals in under six minutes.

The first breakthrough came from an error by Pompey keeper Jamie Ashdown.

He could just watch and curse himself after he let Steven Gerrard chase down Ricardo Rocha's cross and block the goalkeeper's clearance kick for it to ricochet to Maxi Rodriguez, his cross serving Fernando Torres an easy tap-in to make it 1-0.

Torres was involved in the next two goals, too, slipping and clipping the ball over to Ryan Babel and Alberto Aquilani respectively, for them to make no mistake of netting both chances.

Thanks to Pompey's first blooper, Liverpool got up and going and could go into the break much more confident.

The fans at the ground reflected that change of mood, too, with a subdued and unusually quiet atmosphere taken over by cheers, chants and songs - the more common way and sound of things at Anfield.

The second half continued with Liverpool dominating possession and chances.

Torres to elegantly cornered his way through Pompey's back line to make it four and seal the win for the Reds 13 minutes from time.

Portsmouth did get a consolation goal with just a couple of minutes remaining - Nadir Belhadj taking advantage of some defensive confusion by Liverpool to put the ball past Pepe Reina with ease.

This is a crucial win for Liverpool.

They will be hoping they can take the gained confidence into their next match against Lille, where they have to turn around a one-goal deficit to make it into the last quarter finals.

The fans made it clear on Monday night: They are not happy with the current situation and state of things and want change - off the field especially.

Liverpool Reina; Johnson (Kelly 70), Carragher, Agger, Insua; Aquilani, Mascherano, Rodriguez, Gerrard (Benayoun 75), Babel; Torres (Ngog 80). Subs not used Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Lucas.

Portsmouth Ashdown; Finnan, Wilson, Rocha, Hreidarsson (Abeyie 76); Brown, Bouba Diop (Mokoena 64), O'Hara (Webber 85), Dindane; Piquionne, Belhadj. Bookings Dindane 78, Mokoena 78. Subs not used Mullins, Hughes, Kanu.

1st half stats:

Liverpool-Portsmouth

Attempts: 10-4

On target: 3-1

Offsides: 1-1

Corners: 4-2

Free kicks: 7-3

2nd half stats:

Liverpool-Portsmouth

Attempts: 10-2

On target: 6-2

Offsides: 0-1

Corners: 3-2

Free kicks: 9-5

Sky Sports Stats:

Liverpool-Portsmouth

Possession: 64.5%-35.5% (BBC: 58%-42%)

Passing Success: 86.6%-74.4%

Tackles/Success: 21/61.9%-17./88.2%

Territorial Advantage: 55.9%-44.1%

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Man of the match: Fernando Torres

Latics beat dire Reds

Sports - Football - Premier League - Match Report

Wigan 1-0 Liverpool

Liverpool continued their disappointing season with yet another defeat against Wigan; their ninth in the Premier League this season, seven of which have come on the road.

At the DW stadium, the visitors looked clumsy, chaotic, uncoordinated, like headless chickens, and everything else but confident with the ball, losing possession too constantly and too easily.

Even Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who are normally their team's talismen and saviours, wasted golden opportunities on more than one occasion.

The first half was a lost cause, the second looked more like an act of desperation than recuperation, for the Reds that is.

Wigan in contrast showed great perserverance and determination - it was clear they were not going to give anything away without a fight.

Wigan took the lead deservedly in the 35th minute thanks to Dirk Kuyt's loss of possession just outside the box.

Emmerson Boyce put a superb cross through to Hugo Rodallega who made no mistake of putting the ball into the back of the net, leaving Pepe Reina helplessly stranded.

Further chances came fiew and far between the two sides - man of the match Charles N'Zogbia coming closest when his goal-bound shot was denied and cleared off the line by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

Liverpool had uncharacteristically five names added into the referee's book, including Torres and Gerrard in the last 10 minutes, reflecting their desperation and frustration which grew more and more in the second half.

The substitutions did not make much of a change or impact for Liverpool, which the Reds desperately needed on this night and are in need of in general, if they want to keep just a glimmer of hope to end the season in the top 4!

Wigan Kirkland; Caldwell, Scharner, Boyce, Bramble; Figueroa, N'Zogbia, McCarthy, Diame (Thomas 81), Moreno (Moses 67); Rodallega (Scotland 85). Bookings Bramble 40. Subs not used Stojkovic, Amaya, Gomez, Sinclair.

Liverpool Reina; Insua, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Macherano; Benayoun (Aquilani 68), Gerrard, Lucas (Johnson 54), Rodriguez, Kuyt (Babel 81); Torres. Bookings Insua 22, Lucas 29, Kyrgiakos 33, Torres 79, Gerrard 82. Subs not used Cavalieri, Agger, Riera, Ngog.

1st half stats:

Wigan-Liverpool

Attempts: 1-5

On target: 1-0

Offsides: 1-2

Corners: 0-2

Free kicks: 4-5

2nd half stats:

Wigan-Liverpool

Attempts: 5-2

On target: 1-0

Offsides: 0-0

Corners: 3-3

Free kicks: 8-3

Sky Sports stats:

Wigan-Liverpool

Possession: 37%-63% (BBC: 50%-50%)

Passing Success: 73.1%-78.7%

Tackles/Success: 35/82.9%-44/88.6%

Territorial Advantage: 57%-43%

Referee: Andre Marriner

Man of the match: Charles N'Zogbia

Pompey Beat Sorry Reds

Sports - Football - Premier League - Match Report

Portsmouth 2-0 Liverpool

Liverpool got well and truely beaten at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth never looked out of control. They took the lead just past the half-hour mark thanks to Nadir Belhadj who connected to a Glen Johnson header after Pepe Reina thought he had saved and cleared Kevin-Prince Boateng's strike off Hassan Yebda's cross.

It was the first real chance of the match for either side, Johnson coping and reacting weakly and clumsy against his former side.

Things went from bad to worse for Liverpool just before half time when Javier Mascherano saw red for a puch-/strangle-hold tackle against Tal Ben Haim. As it is his second red card of the season, he will be suspended for the next four matches, to make Liverpool's Christmas and New Year even more dire.

The second half continued in a hardly better trend for the Reds, wasting chances and tackling clumsy.

Portsmouth keeper Asmir Begovic kept the main and only scare out well (67). After being sent the wrong way by two deflections through the sleeping Pompey defence, he kept the ball out with his right hand, instinctively and decisively.

Dirk Kuyt and Lucas Leiva were once again the most frustrating, not able to keep hold of or aim with the ball, total wastes. Jamie Carragher and Johnson looked just as unable to cope at the back.

Boateng capped off a fine display by providing Frederic Piquionne from the right, who netted the ball from a tight angle with a right-foot bounce-volley (82).

Pompey celebrated a fully deserved win. Rafael Benitez meanwhile is looking greyer and older by the match, leaving his substitutions too late and seeming to lack options, alternatives and hope more and more so.

Portsmouth Begovic; Finnan, Ben Haim, Kaboul, Hreidarson; Yebda, Boateng (Mullins 89), Brown (c), O'Hara, Belhadj; Piquionne (Kanu 93). Bookings Yebda 48, Piquionne 82. Subs not used Ashdown, Wilson, Hughes, Utaka, Dindane.

Liverpool Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua (Aurelio 68); Kuyt, Lucas (Spearing 88), Gerrard (c), Mascherano, Dossena (Benayoun 53); Torres. Bookings Lucas 47, Torres 56, Johnson 60. Red Mascherano 45. Subs not used Cavalieri, Skrtel, Babel, Ngog.

1st half stats

Portsmouth-Liverpool

Attempts: 6-3

On target: 3-1

Offsides: 0-0

Corners: 4-4

Free kicks: 7-4

Possession: 44%-56% (20.min)

2nd half stats

Portsmouth-Liverpool

Attempts: 6-4

On target: 2-1

Offsides:0-2

Corners: 3-5

Free kicks: 7-3

Possession: 60%-40% (2nd half, 59.min)

Sky Sports stats

Portsmouth-Liverpool

Possession: 45.3%-54.7%

Passing Success: 73.8%-74.9%

Tackles/Success: 33/84.8%-22/77.3%

Territorial Advantage: 52.8%-47.2%

Referee: L. Mason

Man of the match: Nadir Belhadj

Poor Reds Rob Toffees

Sports - Footbal - Premier League - Liverpool 2:0 Everton

Liverpool were lucky to get away with anything from the match at Goodison Park, not to mention two goals and three points!

Everton looked the more coordinated and better organised, pressing and pressing, enjoying most of the possession and chances throughout the match, not letting Liverpool have even just a peek at the goal.

A rare Reds attack ended up in the back of the net and put the guests ahead against the run of play (12). Javier Mascherano's shot from far-out was deflected in by Joseph Yobo leaving Tim Howard stranded to his left. It was lucky for Liverpool, unfortunate own goal for Everton, as the shot looked like it would have gone wide without the defender's intervention.

Everton continued to press on, Jo seeing two goals disallowed before half time whilst Liverpool had their only real chance of the half, created by Glen Johnson and Emiliano Insua, saved brilliantly by Howard.

Everton stayed clearly the better in the second half, keeping in mind they have only ever come back from behind against Liverpool once since WWII. Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini pulled a spectacular double-save from Pepe Reina with just under 20 minutes to go, a match saver.

To make matters worse for Everton, after all their dominance and a good save by Howard against Albert Riera, Yobo gave the ball away to Johnson who provided Dirk Kuyt with an easy tap-in cross from the left to make it two for Liverpool. After all their hard work, Everton seemed to have outplayed themselves.

Football can be a cruel world, as Ireland got to know the hardest way too against France most recently. But, Liverpool can hopefully use this bit of fortune to their advantage, to turn their season around for the better, to get them out of the hole they have fallen into over the last couple of months, even if it has to come at some cost, like it was Everton's today.

Everton Howard; Hibbert, Yobo (Neill 23), Distin, Baines; Pienaar, Cahill (Yakubu 82), Heitinga, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov; Jo (Saha 66). Bookings Heitinga 84. Subs not used Nash, Coleman, Gosling, Baxter.

Liverpool Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua; Kuyt, Mascherano, Gerrard, Lucas, Aurelio (Riera 78); Ngog (Benayoun 75). Subs not used Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Aquilani, El Zhar.

1st half stats:

Everton-Liverpool

Attempts: 7-7

On target: 3-2

Offsides: 4-0

Corners: 3-2

Free kicks: 5-3

2nd half stats:

Everton-Liverpool

Attempts: 5-6

On target: 4-2

Offsides: 1-0

Corners: 0-4

Free kicks: 5-9

Sky stats:

Everton-Liverpool

Possession: 45.4%-54.6%

Passing Success: 75.8%-73%

Tackles/Success: 22/68.2%-35/68.6%

Territorial Advantage: 54.7%-45.3%

Referee: Alan Whiley

Man of the match: Pepe Reina

Liverpool Win In Vain

Sports - Football - UEFA Champions League - Group Stage

Debrecen 0:1 Liverpool

It would have been too good to be true.

Liverpool were in a too sticky situation, in a too deep hole, full stop.

With only one win in the last ten matches in all competitions, a must-win situation for a chance to progress to the last 16, also relying on Lyon to get something against Fiorentina in the other group match and not even counting all the injuries, ifs and buts - the odds were impossible, miserable, against the Reds.

Liverpool did start positive at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium and all-attacking. After just four minutes, Jamie Carragher provided David Ngog with a header from left outside the box, who put the ball into the back of the net and Liverpool in the lead with a cheeky left-back-heeler.

The Reds pressed and pushed on with a lot of possession and chances. Dirk Kuyt was the most frustrating, missing a low open header off a free kick by Steven Gerrard (11) and an easy tap in off a cross by Fabio Aurelio (16).

The second half continued in the same red trend, but now knowing Fiorentina were ahead against Lyon thanks to a first half penalty, minute by minute, the weight grew on the team and fans, knowing they would this win would not be enough anyway.

Debrecen came close to equalise late on reminding Liverpool as they know all too well, one goal is not enough to sit back and wait for the final whistle to declare the win. Pepe Reina blocked Adamo Coulibaly's shot off the line shortly after Gergely Rudolf's solo-attack from the right ended wide.

Rafael Benitez's changes late on were questionable once again, taking off the three best players of the night. But, I guess it was just to waste time and save players and the result at least.

In the end, all the edge and nerves were all for nothing and too late. The game looked more like a lower league match after a promising start. Even with all their chances, I cannot say Liverpool would have deserved to progress ahead of Fiorentina or Lyon.

So, Liverpool are out of the Champions League and can see what they can scrape out of what is left for them in the deep holes they are in: In the Europa League, Premier League and FA Cup. It is all fair in the end, same goes for their league display, run and position.

Debrecen Poleksic; Bodner, Meszaros, Mijadinoski, Foder (Dombi 62); Szelesi, Kiss, Szalaky (Coulibaly 77), Czitkovics; Leczko, Rudolf. Subs not used Pantic, Ramos, Komlosi, Bernath, Varga. Bookings Szelesi 23.


Liverpool Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas; Gerrard (Aquilani 92), Aurelio (Dossena 89), Kuyt; Ngog (Benayoun 77). Subs not used Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Spearing, Skrtel.


1st half stats:
Debrecen-Liverpool
Attempts: 1-5
On target: 0-3
Offsides: 0-0
Corners: 0-6
Free kicks: 9-12


2nd half stats:
Debrecen-Liverpool
Attempts: 4-11
On target: 2-4
Offsides: 3-1
Corners: 3-4
Free kicks: 7-9

Sky Stats:
Debrecen-Liverpool
Possession: 29%-71%
Passing Success: 72%-87%
Tackles/Success: 16/88%-20/80%
Territorial Advantage: 42%-58%


Referee: B. Kuipers
Man of the match: David Ngog

Liverpool back on track against United

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 2:0 Man Utd

The pressure could not have been higher at Anfield. Every news channel, programme and article previewing and reporting on the match repeated Liverpool's bad run of four consecutive defeats, their worst since 1987.

If they would have lost again today it would have been their worst record since 1953.

They would have most certainly been out of the title race. But another much discussed question has been what would come next. Would Rafael Benitez keep his job, who could and would replace him and which players would follow them in and out?

Questions, questions, questions - all ringing the Liverpool crises bell, not even mentioning the unrest behind the scenes. The American owners have been fueling speculation with their search for new outside investment and moving seats away from each other during the half time break did not exactly calm the tension.

In contrast to their rivals, Manchester United have been enjoying a run of eleven games unbeaten in all competitions, sitting top of the table in the Premier League and their Champions League group. Wayne Rooney returned up front for them joining Dimitar Berbatov, whilst Steven Gerrard had to sit out the match for Liverpool due to injury, Fernando Torres returning and starting alone up front.

Liverpool started tight defensively and pushed forward with clear intentions, they were not going to sit back and be pounced on. They produced most chances in the first half with Lucas Leiva, Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio all trying their best to press through and provide Torres.

Pepe Reina had hardly anything to do on the other side of the pitch, whilst Edwin Van der Sar was kept busy and made some brilliant saves. Aurelio came closest with a free kick from outside the box, Kuyt seeing his shot off the rebound blocked by his fellow-Dutchman.

Kuyt looked clumsy at times, wasting chances and possession on more than one occasion. The backline showed no such leaks with a much more solid display, putting their bodies on the line to make sure United could not and would not break through. Jamie Carragher was lucky not to have conceded a penalty after he brought down Michael Carrick with just the faintest hint of contact on the ball.

The second half started similar, Liverpool pushing on, Nemanja Vidic looking very insecure and clumsy against Torres. Just past the hour mark, Liverpool took the lead, deservedly so, with a tremendous break and cross by Benayoun, finding Torres who beat Rio Ferdinand and Van der Sar, from the right with his right, to smack it into the top of the top.

More lethal and physical tackles and bookings followed, Alex Ferguson bringing on Michael Owen to change United's fortune, for him to receive a hostile welcome from the Kop. Torres was replaced by David Ngog and applauded and cheered off the pitch, with ten nervous and tense minutes to go.

Antonio Valencia hit the crossbar for United moments after Carragher had blocked his former team mate Owen, the closest United got to score in the whole match. Liverpool's stand-in skipper was cautioned moments later after it looked like he was the last man when he brought down Owen and lucky not to be sent off for it.

More controversy followed when Vidic saw his second yellow card of the afternoon for bringing down Kuyt. He had a poor match, looking insecure and unable to cope with Torres, in contrast to Carragher on the other end, who kept possession and control. Both shared their moments of crime and controversy, the one getting caught out one time too many.

Mascherano was caught out daftly when he busted into Van der Sar and followed Vidic into the stands on his second yellow with just minutes remaining.

But Liverpool added salt onto United's wounds in the last seconds of the match, when a free Ngog calmly converted a Kuyt cross from another counter-attack break to make it 2-0, three points and three Premier League wins in a row for Liverpool against their arch-rivals.

United were poor, even with Rooney and Berbatov up front. Liverpool were brilliantly tight, physical and challenging from the back to the front. The Scousers created more and made Ferdinand and Vidic look like mediocre defenders who had too much on their plates to deal with.

It was a change of fortune to see Liverpool back on their feet and fighting, showing up their critics, skeptics and opponents and proving that no team is unbeatable.

Liverpool Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua; Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun (Skrtel 92), Kuyt, Aurelio; Torres (Ngog 81). Bookings Mascherano 73, Carragher 87. Red Mascherano 95. Subs not used Cavalieri, Voronin, Babel, Spearing, Degen.

Man Utd Van der Sar; O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Scholes (Nani 74), Giggs; Berbatov (Owen 74) Rooney. Bookings Evra 15, Berbatov 37, Vidic 75. Red Vidic 90. Subs not used Foster, Neville, Anderson, Da Silva, Evans.

1st half stats

Liverpool-Man Utd

Attempts: 7-1

On target: 3-1

Offsides: 0-3

Corners: 3-0

Free kicks: 6-6

2nd half stats

Liverpool-Man Utd

Attempts: 5-5

On target: 2-2

Offsides: 1-0

Corners: 1-1

Free kicks: 4-12

Referee: Andre Marriner

Man of the match: Fernando Torres

Aston Villa end Liverpool's unbeaten run at home

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa

Liverpool experienced a frustrating defeat against Aston Villa at Anfield, ending their unbeaten run at home of over 30 matches.

The Reds dictated most of the match with over two thirds of the possession, over twenty attempts, half of which were on target. Aston Villa were kept more than busy and pushed back into their territory for most of the match.

A mis-hit by Fernando Torres led to a scramble in the Villa box, Yossi Benayoun ending up being denied and so too Steven Gerrard, foiled by Brad Friedel's feet. That was just one of many scrambles and misses for Liverpool, chance after chance they scrapped, slipped and looked clumsy at times.

Villa played a classic counter attacking game, their goalkeeper Friedel and defence, Curtis Davies especially, starring most and shining solid. When they won a free kick left wide outside Liverpool's box just part the half-hour mark, they made use of that rare chance of pressure and attack. Lucas Leiva headed the ball into his own net, changing the score against the run of play.

Just before halt time, the game turned even further on its head and more misery was piled onto the Reds. Liverpool's zonal marking strategy failed once again when Davies headed Nicky Shorey's corner into the right corner of the net, past Torres and Jamie Carragher. That made it 0-2 to Aston Villa at half time and left Anfield stunned, in disbelief after all their side's dominance and chances.

In the second half, Liverpool kept the upper hand, control and dominance of the game and play but not of the score line. Torres finally got a goal back, a free hit for the home side with just under 20 minutes to go.

But just minutes later, the game saw another twist, with an unlikely villain, Gerrard conceding a penalty after he brought down Nigel Reo-Coker inside the box. Ashley Young converted from the spot, sending Pepe Reina the wrong way and Liverpool onto the wrong side of the scoreboard and into turmoil after their second defeat out of just three games played so far in the new season.

Liverpool Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas (65 Voronin), Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun (74 Babel); Torres. Subs not used Cavalieri, Riera, Kelly, Dossena, Ayala. Bookings 47 Reina, 77 Torres, 88 Skrtel.

Aston Villa Friedel; Beye, Davies, Cuellar, Shorey; Milner, Sidwell, Petrov, Reo-Coker; Young (79 Heskey), Agbonlahor. Subs not used Guzan, Albrighton, Delfouneso, Delph, Gardner, Lowry. Bookings 12 Young, 57 Reo-Coker.

1st half stats: Liverpool-Aston Villa
Attempts: 9-5
On target: 5-3
Offsides: 0-2
Corners: 2-3
Free kicks: 5-7

2nd half stats: Liverpool-Aston Villa
Attempts: 14-1
On target: 7-1
Offsides: 1-1
Corners: 5-1
Free kicks: 4-5

Referee: Martin Atkinson

UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Match Report: Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool

Sports - Football - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final - Chelsea 4:4 Liverpool - Chelsea progress 7:5 on aggregate

I am still pinching myself to make sure I have not dreamed all this up!

It had everything in it: Drama, quality, errors, comebacks, nerve-wrecking tensions; both sides showed and the game went from brilliance to shambles, stamina to leaks, stubbornness to weaknesses, hope to disappointment, unpredictability to the abvious, pure class to shame; back and forth it went, you just had to remember to keep on breathing whilst watching on in utter stunned-ness.

After enjoying a 3-1 victory at Anfield - Liverpool's first defeat at home in all competitions this season - and Steven Gerrard not even on the bench for the Reds, Chelsea were favourites to progress and started the match very much laid-back, Didier Drogba left isolated at the front. But after conceding three against Bolton at the weekend (nearly four) and Liverpool having scored four or more goals in four of their last nine matches - opponents including Real Madrid and Manchester United, the Blues should have known better. The Reds are famous for their against-all-odds comebacks.

The game started suprisingly calm, both teams with a fair share of possession and a couple of chances: Fernando Torres missed a point-blank chance from about 20 yards from the goal-line after a flick-on from Yossi Benayoun; Frank Lampard put a promising looking free kick wide on the other side of the pitch. But Liverpool enjoyed more possession, Pepe Reina left with nothing to do for most of the first half.

When Fabio Aurelio netted a free kick from outside the box, putting it cheekily in the bottom right-hand corner when everyone expected him to cross it into the box to his teams mates, the tension intesified at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool kept pacing forward and pressure high, leading to a penalty when Branislav Ivanovic wrapped himself around Xabi Alonso inside the box, who confidently sent Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech the wrong way and smashed the ball into the right side of the net.

A few minutes later, Ivanovic made a weak penalty appeal against Jamie Carragher and Drogba drew a sad picture of himself fallingover and rolling around at every little challenge. But the referee Luis Medina Cantalejo was one of those who gave free kicks for every little something or nothing. Still, the Reds went into half time with confidence high; Chelsea due a rant from temporary-manager Guus Hiddink.

Second half, Chelsea started much stronger - also strengthened by Nicolas Anelka who came on just after Chelsea fell 2:0 behind. It did not help when Reina put an easy hold-on flick-shot from Drogba into his own net; but Alex smashed in a 30-yard piledriver and Lampard made it 3:" (my predicted score), putting Chelsea in the driver's seat and their quality out of question, one foot in the semi final.

Rafa Benitez took off Torres, presumably to keep him safe for their Premier League ties and title race ahead, facing Arsenal next Tuesday at home, and thereby making it seem like he had accepted and condemned the Reds to defeat. But the last ten minutes topped an already juicy, top-class match: Without Gerrard and Torres, needing three goals to advance, Liverpool seemed doomed but played on, looking everything else but resigned.

They kept possession and pace high; in the 81st minute Lucas Leiva's shot deflected in and 90 seconds later, Dirk Kuyt headed in an Albert Riera cross from the left, making it look like, once again, Liverpool were making the impossible possible and happen, with eight minutes remaining. But as with the previous three goals Liverpool had conceded, keeping the pace and pressure high and attacking continuously, gaps and leaks were left at the back for the Chelsea players able to take advantage of and score - this time it was Frank Lampard again to break Reds' hearts.

But Liverpool can definitely travel back from London with their heads held high, having netted four against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - which has not happened to them in decades - and having made one of the best matches ever and a great contest of the quarter final, having been given no chance after being outplayed at home in the first leg and starting this match without their skipper.

The fans were great, too, they never stopped singing, holding their heads and scarves up high until the end, making it hard to believe at times that the match was played in London. Now the Reds can concentrate on the Premier League, which Rafa has seemingly and finally given priority, looking back at his team lineup and substitutions in this match. The fans are left to hope Manchester United will slip up with the full plate of fixtures in all competitions they have left. Chelsea, if they play and show the same insecurities they have in the last couple of nervous matches, will have no chance against a top-class and on-a-roll Barcelona-side. Liverpool can definitely walk on with their heads up high. YNWA! Justice for the 96!

Chelsea Cech; A. Cole, Cavalho, Ivanovic, Alex; Lampard, Ballack, Malouda, Essien; Drogba (94 Di Santo), Kalou (36 Anelka). Bookings 28 Ivanovic, 58 Cavalho, 65 A. Cole. Subs not used Hilario, Mikel, Deco, Belletti, Mancienne.

Liverpool Reina; Carragher, Aurelio, Arbeloa (85 Babel), Skrtel; Alonso, Mascherano (70 Riera), Lucas, Kuyt; Torres (80 Ngog), Benayoun. Bookings 41 Benayoun, 74 Arbeloa. Subs not used Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Agger.

Man of the match: Frank Lampard

1st half stats: Chelsea-Liverpool
Attempts: 1-5
On target: 0-3
Offsides: 2-1
Corners: 2-3
Free kicks: 14-7
Possession: 36%-64% (23.min)

2nd half stats: Chelsea-Liverpool
Attempts: 9-6
On target: 5-4
Offsides: 0-3
Corners: 2-1
Free kicks: 11-7

Overall stats: Chelsea-Liverpool (taken from skysports.com)
Possession: 60%-40%
Passing Success: 69.1%-78.3%
Tackles/Success: 10/50%-15/73.3%
Territorial Advantage: 47.6%-52.4%

Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain)

Football Feature: Match Summary

Result: Middlesbrough 1 : 1 Arsenal (HT 1 : 1)

My Prediction: 1 : 1

Middlesbrough Goals: 1: 28:17 min Jeremie Aliadiere (10)

Arsenal Goals: 1: 16:16 min Emmanuel Adebayor (25)

Middlesbrough Bookings: -

Arsenal Bookings: 47. min Vassiriki Diaby (2)

Middlesbrough Changes: 1. 90.min: On: Mohamed Shawky (15) Off: Didier Digard (8)

2. 93.min: On: Marvin Emnes (11) Off: Adam Johnson (28)

Arsenal Changes: 1. 82.min: On: Nicklas Bendtner (26) Off: Abou Diaby (2)

1st half + 2nd half stats = total

Middlesbrough Attempts: 4 + 2 = 6

Arsenal Attempts: 6 + 6 = 12

Middlesbrough On target: 2 + 1 = 3

Arsenal On target: 3 + 2 = 5

Middlesbrough Offsides: 0 + 1 = 1

Arsenal Offsides: 2 + 0 = 2

Middlesbrough Corners: 2 + 1 = 3

Arsenal Corners: 3 + 5 = 8

Middlesbrough Free kicks: 2 + 7 = 9

Arsenal Free kicks: 3 + 3 = 6

*Possession:

Middlesbrough 55% + 41% = 48%

Arsenal 45% + 59% = 52%

(*taken from BBC Live match stats)

**Passing Success: Middlesbrough 71.3% : 81.5% Arsenal

**Tackles/Success: Middlesbrough 19/89.5% : 21/90.5% Arsenal

**Territorial Advantage: Middlesbrough 48.3% : 51.7% Arsenal

(**taken from Sky Sports' match report)

Middlesbrough Lineup: 21 Ross Turnbull, 29 Tony McMahon, 5 Chris Riggott, 4 Robert Huth, 6 Emanuel Pogatetz, 28 Adam Johnson, 8 Didier Digard, 20 Julio Arca, 19 Stewart Downing, 17 Tuncay Sanli, 10 Jeremie Aliadiere

Arsenal Lineup: 1 Manuel Almunia, 3 Bacary Sagna, 10 William Gallas, 20 Johan Djourou, 22 Gael Clichy, 15 Neves Denilson, 17 Alexandre Billong Song, 4 Francesc Fabregas, 11 Robin van Persie, 25 Emmanuel Adebayor

Man of the Match: Jeremie Aliadiere

Referee: Peter Walton