[Adam11111]

Well, we know that whenever Chelsea paly Liverpool, the match is always disappointing, and last night's match was no exception.

Despite the debut performances of Riquelme and Podolski nothing could make the game amusing.

It started promisingly, a Didier Drogba cross after eight minutes gave Ballack an excellent volley chance, completely unmarked, but his effort was awful, about ten yards wide.

But five minutes later Ballack showed Liverpool that he meant business, a long range shot just over the bar. After 28 minutes Chelsea were beginning to wonder why they weren't leading. A brillian Malouda cross to Drogba should have been headed in, but went just wide.

Deco began to show why Chelsea signed him, just before half time a great thru ball to Podolski saw him one on one with Reina, but the nineteen year old's shot was saved by Pepe Reina.

So the teams went in 0-0 at the halfway point.

On 58 minutes Liverpool created their first chance. A fernando Torres shot with irresistable force and dip from an almost impossible angle forced Cech to make the save of the game. On 60 minutes, on came Riquelme. And he had an immediate influence on the game. After a great run down the wing he made a sublime cross to Lukas Podolski, whose volley beat Reina but not Jamie Carragher on the goal line.

In the 90th minute Michael Ballack made another attempt at goal which sailed over the bar perhaps onto the roof, a reflection of the dismality of theh game.


Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool