Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool: Have your say
Chelsea's unbeaten home run is intact, but only just, after a tireless display from Liverpool this afternoon.
The Reds held their own for large periods and perhaps got less than they deserved from a game in which they created the better chances.
Peter Crouch missed Liverpool's best opening midway through the first half, skewing the ball agonisingly wide following Ryan Babel's knock down.
Babel was once again employed on the left wing and produced a Jekyll and Hyde performance. At times he looked capable of running Juliano Belletti, who was booked inside three minutes, ragged. However, as the game wore on the young Dutchman faded as if he lacking the inspiration and experience to unpick Chelsea's resolute defence.
His compatriot Dirk Kuyt was also off the boil. You sensed the injured Fernando Torres, a more direct, incisive and clever frontman could have won the game for Liverpool but, for all his effort, watching Kuyt stumble towards Crouch's flick ons was like pulling teeth.
On a more positive note, Javier Mascherano showed once again why £18million will be money well spent. The Argentine diligently went about his business, breaking down Chelsea's forays infront of the new-look defensive pairing of Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel.
As a unit the trio work doggedly to keep chances at a premium. Belletti sent one long-ranger off target, while Claude Makelele's first-time strike from 40 yards was as misguided as it was ambitious. The hosts' best chance fell to Michael Ballack but he fired wide with Pepe Reina rooted to the spot.
As time went on Babel had an effort charged down inside the box and Dirk Kuyt was muscled out of an opportunity by Ashley Cole. Substitute Jermaine Pennant made Cech work with a header five minutes from time but failed to generate much power from Kuyt's lofted cross.
A draw at Stamford Bridge is certainly not be sniffed at but Liverpool fans may just be thinking the red men could have got more. As stubbornly as we defended we lacked the cutting edge in attack that could have turned one point into three. It's a problem that's hounded us all season and one Benitez will have to remedy if we are to return to the top four.
But it wasn't the mauling that many anticipated and, at the end of the day, we got one point than Manchester United, didn't we? Bring on Barnsley.
What did you make of the game? Should we have been more positive? Did Rafa pick the right starting XI? Should he have brought on some fresh legs instead of leaving Harry Kewell and Yossi Benayoun on the bench?
Whatever your thoughts on the game use the comment button below to let us know.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Skrtel, Riise, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Babel (Pennant 71), Crouch, Kuyt.
[Image: Getty]
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