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Rafa's Liverpool - a special side in the making

The Benitez boys gave champions Chelsea a footballing lesson at Anfield. But it looks too late for them to make a challenge for the title

by Jean Paul Borg on 21 January 2007

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Rafael Benitez: special team (gettyimages.com)

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Liverpool confirmed their superlative form in the league at Anfield on Saturday - and this time against Chelsea. Their performance had everything - panache, style, strength. Yes, Rafael Benitez is building a special side, even though their indifferent start to the campaign is keeping them from a title challenge. There are still 14 matches to be played but as Steven Gerrard stated after the match, the gap is still massive.

Gaps apart, Saturday's match left every Liverpool fan drooling with pride. Within 18 minutes they were already two up and pegging Chelsea into their shells. Liverpool bossed the match and the three points and indeed clean sheet were never in danger. Pepe Reina was not called on to make a decent save.

Jamie Carragher won the personal duel with Didier Drogba, marshalling the defence with precision. Special mention also has to go for both Petr Cech and Arjen Robben. The former sported headgear normally worn by kick boxers, highly appropriate with the battering Chelsea took. The only problem is that such headgear does not protect against a bruised ego.

The only regret I am carrying this morning is that there are still ten days to go to the next Liverpool fixture.

How did you rate Liverpool's performance against Chelsea? Send your views to Sportingo.

Comments (3)

by Michael Pudney on January 23, 2007

It's true you gave them a footballing lesson. But would have you done the same with a full strength Chelsea team?

by Jean Paul Borg on January 23, 2007

It is incredible to suggest that a squad that must have cost near 300million sterling were weak, their lads on the bench are on the wish list of most managers, and having said that Liverpool were without Momo, Garcia, Kewell and whoever. Have you ever heard Rafa lament injuries?

by Craig on January 25, 2007

Chelsea's squad on the day cost £165,000,000 in transfer fees, that was £100,000,000 more than Liverpools squad. It is also worth noting that we were really unlucky at Stamford Bridge earlier on in the season, Kuyt hit the bar and Gerrard should've scored on the day - but that's football. We still had to play this match and every club has injury problems. What do you expect when you sell Huth and Gallas and fail to replace them? Chelseas biggest worry should be that neither Frank Lampard or Michael Ballack turnt up to the game - oh wait they did. It's also probably a worry that the £30 million pound Shevchenko has been out shone by Obafemi Martins, Dirk Kuyt and Berbatov who all cost around the £9 million pound mark.