Liverpool: Liverpool riding on retribution after their 2-1 loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup finals at Wembley on Saturday beat the Blues 4-1 at the Anfield here last night to put a huge dent to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next year.
Chelsea would have to win the Champions League if they want to qualify for the tournament next year as their hopes of qualifying through English Premier League is over.
With just one match remaining, Chelsea are five points behind the fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and four points adrift fifth-placed Newcastle United. This is the first time since season 2001-02 that Chelsea has finished outside the top four and they can now seal a Champions League spot only after they beat Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on May 19th.
Earlier Roberto Di Matteo, Chelsea’s stand-in-manager made eight changes to the team that won the cup final on Saturday a plan that misfired very bad for them. Reds who missed the services off their skipper Steven Gerrard started off on a very attacking note and got the first goal through a Michael Essien blunder. Essien who tried the clear the ball from Michael turned it into his own nets in the 19 minute to concede the first goal of the match.
Six minutes later, a lapse in the defence saw Liverpool score the second goal of the match. John Terry, Chelsea’s skipper slipped which gave a way to Henderson who produced a spectacular finish to beat Chelsea’s custodian Ross Turnbull all ends up.
In the 28th minute Daniel Agger pumped one more past Turnbull after receiving a pass from Andy Carroll. Just before the breather they could have gone 4-0 up, but Stewart Downing missed a penalty.
After the change of ends, five minutes into the second half Ramires pulled one back for the Blues which restored some hope for the Champions League finalists. But it was short lived as Liverpool scored the fourth one after Turnbull while trying to clear the ball made it to land straight at the feet of Shelbey who in turn fired a shot from 30 feet to find the nets.
The win now has given the seven placed Liverpool and outer edge of overhauling Everton to the seventh place on the final day whereas Chelsea would stay sixth no matter what.
By Indian Sports News Network
