Steven Gerrard chases down Eden Hazard during the opening exchanges at Anfield
Raheem Sterling (on floor) slides in and challenges Chelsea full back Branislav Ivanovic
Can lets fly and his shot from 25 yards led to Liverpool's opening goal (via a deflection)
Can jumps for joy after scoring the opener - the midfielder's first goal for Liverpool
Emre Can's goal came after a 23-pass move by Liverpool - click here for more from our brilliant Match Zone
Cahill (centre) shoots straight at Mignolet (left) but the ball went over the line for Chelsea's equaliser after 14 minutes
The Chelsea centre half wheels away after scoring his side's leveller at Anfield
The Goal Decision System showed that Cahill's shot did cross the line
That
said, it took time to achieve and that is to Liverpool’s credit. They
were better than they have been, especially in those opening exchanges,
when they energy of their game did hark back to last season and
temporarily disrupted Chelsea’s progress.
They
started in a frenzy. Emre Can’s first-minute shot was deflected wide by
John Terry but when he tried again on nine minutes, Gary Cahill got in
the way and diverted it past his keeper and Anfield once again roared
with kind of belief that so energised the team last season.
This
being Chelsea though, they were not swept away by the whirlwind. Cesc
Fabregas, who like Ramires was playing with an injury which Mourinho
said may cost them games later in the month, took the corner on 14
minutes which was met by Diego Costa who flicked on for John Terry to
head from close range.
Simon
Mignolet produced a superb reaction save and seemed to have done the
same from Cahill’s scuffed shot from the rebound. But the goal-line
technology showed the ball over the line. Of course, it all occurred in
front of the Kop, scene of Luis Garcia’s ghost goal of folklore. This
time, however, there was no debate. ‘Everyone knows this is truth and
that is fantastic for us as professional and for the crowd, as they know
it’s true, and for the referees,’ said Mourinho.
The
same could not be said for the contentious decisions that followed.
Raheem Sterling's mis-hit was stopped by the arm of a diving Cahill on
26 minutes but referee Taylor missed that and Alberto Moreno’s block
with his arm on 36 minutes, another clear penalty of the three he should
have awarded in the game.
Terry (second right) heads the ball clear and relieves the pressure on the Chelsea defence
Balotelli holds off Cesc Fabregas while Nemanja Matic watches on keenly
Ramires puts his forearm into Raheem Sterling's face - but it was the Liverpool man who was booked
martin Skrtel (left) and Diego Costa square up and the pair were at each other through the entire first half
Skrtel (second left) is ushered away by Fabregas at half-time after another clash with Costa (third right, partially obscured)
Moreno’s
misdemeanour came within an extraordinary spell of Chelsea pressure in
which Liverpool simply could not get out of their half. Frustration
reached a climax when Gerrard attempted to clear only to collide with
Jordan Henderson and Anfield howled with indignation for, at the moment,
it felt respite would never come.
Blocks
from Glen Johnson- at least three – and Dejan Lovren were responsible
for holding Chelsea at bay. All the while, Diego Costa and Martin Skrtel
were conducting a battle that appeared to be a cross between
heavyweight boxing and hand-to-hand wrestling.
If
ever a team needed half time, it was Liverpool. But they did emerge for
the second half somewhat calmer. True they needed a Lovren header to
prevent Eden Hazard’s lovely chipped pass reaching Costa. But equally,
when Sterling cut inside Ivanovic on 54 minutes, he forced a sharp save
from Courtois.
The
breakthrough came on 66 minutes when Cesar Azpilicueta admirably
refused to give up on a lost cause and – just – kept the ball in when
chasing down the left wing. He then brushed Philippe Coutinho aside on
his way to goal. Mignolet deflected his cross but only into the path of
Costa who, inside the penalty area, finished as expected.
Gerrard and Balotelli focused during the warm-up before the lunchtime clash against Chelsea
Costa attempts an overhead kick as he has his short pulled by Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno (left)
Costa's shirt was ripped during one of his many battles with Liverpool's defenders
Balotelli goes down under pressure from Matic and appeals to the referee as the ball squirts away
Costa is congratulated by Willian after scoring Chelsea's second goal
Liverpool felt the ball had gone out in the build-up to Chelsea's winner but the officials thought Cesar Azpilicueta kept it in
Jose Mourinho continues to have a vice-like grip on Liverpool after Costa scored the winner
Balotelli takes off his gloves after being substituted following another ineffective display
Costa, who wound up Liverpool's defenders all game, was booked for this challenge on Glen Johnson
Cahill appeared to move his arm towards the ball near the end but the referee did not give a penalty
Gerrard appeals in vain to Anthony Taylor for a penalty for handball - the referee was not interested
Four of Liverpool's returning players (from left) Balotelli, Sterling, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson warm-up
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