Match Reports
Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea Liverpool left it late, but managed to return to the Premiership summit thanks to Vladimir Smicer's injury time winner. Chelsea had the better of the opening half, and should have led at the interval, after creating a couple of excellent chances for themselves. The first fell to Gudjohnsen, who slid in at the near post needing only to put the ball straight ahead of him, but made poor contact and saw the ball go wide of goal. Then, later in the half, Mario Stanic was on the end of a Gudjohnsen cross, and saw his excellent volley saved by Dudek, proving once again why he is considered as the best keeper in the league by so many. The rebound fell to Hasselbaink, who fired well oevr the bar. Liverpool were well below par in the first half, and were dealt a blow before half time when Steve Gerrard was taken off after picking up a groin strain. Danny Murphy filled the gap in the centre of midfield, with Vladimir Smicer being brought on to the pitch to play on the right wing. The Reds contined to look second best though, as a well organised Chelsea side frustrated the Liverpool attackers all afternoon, with countless offside decisions going against Liverpool. An improvement was needed, and while the second half was still a long way short of the performance witnessed at Anfield earlier in the week, it was slightly better than the first. Michael Owen came on as a sub to help Liverpool get the all important goal, but was kept quiet for most of his time on the picth. John Arne Riise ha d a couple of attempts from long range, but failed to trouble Carlo Cudicini, as Liverpool upped the pressure and Emile Heskey saw a goal disallowed for a clear offside. For as much possesion as Liverpool had though, they still looked like they could be caught out at the back as Chelsea carved out a couple of good moves at the other end, with Hasselbaink going closest in the last 10 minutes of the match with a shot from a narrow angle and with Dudek bearing down on the Dutch striker. The ball dropped just over the bar and the game appeared destined to be heading for a goalless draw. But as the game drew closer to a finish, and as many supporters were already pouring out of the exits, up stepped Vladimir Smicer, to finish a great cross by Heskey with an even better volley, and with just another minute of stoppage time to play, Liverpool looked certain to move back into top spot in the Premier League. Their was relief at the final whistle, but Liverpool can now look to another home game next week to maintain top spot, and increase the pressure on both Arsenal and Man United to win their own games. Chelsea will wonder what they have to do to win at Anfield, having played 10 and won none since the formation of the Premier League, but if Liverpool do go on to win the league then maybe, just maybe, Smicer's 91st minute winner will be the one goal that makes so much difference. With Arsenal playing in the FA Cup this weekend, the only other result which affects the title race was at Old Trafford, where Man United were beaten 1-0 by Middlesbrough.
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