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.
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)
