Its Official: Jose is Rafa's Bitch

this.is.anfield match report:

Dirty Dan: The only thing between the two sides last night at Anfield, was two penalties not given in our favour. The first was when Drogba hauled down Sami Hyppia, a clear foul, but the ref missed it. Later on, Gallas blocked Jamie Carragher's goalbound header with his hand and again the referee seemed to completely miss it.

Italian Referees don't usually work out in English-only affairs and this was another such occasion. With tackles flying in all aroud the pitch, he got some right, missed others and ended up pissing off both benches.

Other than that I was pretty satisfied with our display. Benitez went for a 4-4-2 with an attacking mindset and even though the first half was sorta level, we ruled for the last half an hour, pushing forward and keeping majority of the posession. His game plan was spot on.

I can see why Rafa paid 7m for Crouch. Although far from a perfect night out, he did win pretty much everything in the air. Its a shame Cisse couldn't do much partnering him up front. Infact, Cisse was diabolical last night, gave the ball away too much, ran into defenders and kept falling down. His challenges looked half hearted as if that leg-breaking injury was still playin on his mind or sth.

Chelsea have probably the best defence in Europe and statistics over the last season and so far this season, prove it. It would always be difficult to score against them but it felt good going to bed thinking that the only reason we didn't win this one was the ref. Chelsea, on the other hand, would be wondering how to break Rafa's side down.

Jose is now Rafa's bitch, totally sussed out.

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Benny C: Before the game I would have taken a draw but we really could have won it.

After all the bitching about the last time we met (Not having Robben, not a goal etc) I think Chelsea will be the happier with a draw. Both Duff and Robben were largely absent from the game and apart from kicking our lads (in particular Gerrard) their midfield had trouble getting to grips with the game.

Their defence though, is second to none but even the mighty Terry seemed to have trouble with Crouch (whose ball control was sublime - perhaps not such a bad signing as I initially feared? - hope he doesn't become the next Heskey!!)

Unfortunately, despite creating openings we rarely looked like scoring. Chelsea though, I felt, never really looked like scoring at all and my anxiety of the day seemed un-warranted. (Still no excuse not to have a drink or two to steady the nerves)

We have shown to be the constant thorns in Chelsea's side and but for the ref we should have won it.

Chelsea will be happier with the draw despite what Mourinho says....roll on Sunday......

(What the hell was the Portuguese tool going on about after the game?? Answers on a postcard please. The winner will get a free English/Portuguese dictionary and a bunch of sour grapes...)

Benitez unhappy at penalty denial
Rafael Benitez insists Liverpool should have had a penalty in their Champions League draw with Chelsea.

Mourinho happy with Anfield draw
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho claims both sides will be happy with the Champions League draw at Liverpool.

BBC: Match Report



Guardian: Reds denied as referee spares Chelsea

Even if Liverpool had to share the points they held fast to their reputation as the one English team who can regularly unnerve Chelsea. Jose Mourinho's side did duck a repeat of the defeat at Anfield that nailed them in their European Cup semi-final last season, but their general anxiety was far greater here last night. Though they guarded the goalkeeper Petr Cech well, it took the Italian referee Massimo de Santis to spare Chelsea a penalty.

The home crowd could be satisfied by the maturity with which their team avoided being picked off on the break and by the manner in which they dominated the second half. "Boring, boring Chelsea," sang those fans at the end, gleefully contradicting Mourinho's pre-match assertion that it is Liverpool who "do not play with an open heart". MORE



Times: Mourinho forced to play second fiddle again

SOMETHING about Chelsea is anathema to your typical Liverpudlian, whether it is nouveau-riche arrogance, the Cockney swagger of Frank Lampard or simply, as the Kop have been known to sneer, that they have “no history”.

After their fifth meeting in nine months and the first of two this week alone, though, accusations about a lack of dignity might be secondary to the first doubts to have emerged about Chelsea’s supposed invincibility as Liverpool claimed what the rest of the Barclays Premiership will desperately cling to as a moral victory.

José Mourinho might claim that there is no such thing in football and prefer to point out that his team drew at the home of the European champions — if indeed he is prepared to acknowledge Liverpool’s status as such — but Chelsea were made to look ordinary last night for the first time since their nervous opening-day victory over Wigan Athletic in the Premiership. MORE