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This game between Liverpool and Chelsea was guaranteed to provide controversy and drama in one form or another.
The first half delivered both as a wayward back-pass from Steven Gerrard straight to the feet of Didier Drogba gifted an opportunity to the Ivorian striker to open the scoring. One can only imagine the reaction in the Manchester United camp and the conspiracy theories fermenting in the minds of United’s supporters as Drogba rounded Reina to slot home.
The build up has been dominated by Liverpool’s “dilemma” in the form of a victory potentially handing the title to United. The more pertinent question would have been can a Liverpool side, coming into the game having suffered 10 Premier League defeats already this season hope to stop a Chelsea team from getting a win that would put one hand on the trophy?
Gerrard had made a similar error a few years previously, on that occasion the back pass enabling Thierry Henry to score a vital goal for Arsenal, so Mancunian suspicion should be tempered. The rest of his lack luster performance has been all too evident during the season.
Chelsea started the second half with greater purpose than the first, finally applying the kind of pressure and commitment that had been largely absent in the opening 45 minutes and their reward came as Frank Lampard slotted home from Anelka’s cross in the 54th minute to seal the victory. Again any concerns about Liverpool’s focus should be mitigated by the amount of similar goals they have conceded this year. The Merseyside club did not start the game in seventh place without cause.
What now for Benitez and Liverpool?
With Champions League football for next season now out of reach and Europa League football secured following Everton’s draw yesterday, both manager and club will surely focus on the future. This week, in an unfolding drama ultimately far more significant to supporters than the supposed “dilemma” Liverpool faced in today’s game, Benetez once again refused to deny the rumors of his imminent departure to Juventus. Reports from Turin had it as a “done deal.” And when pressed the Spaniard had this to say;
“This is a massive club and the fans have been fantastic every day.
“I’m proud to be here. I signed the contract extension because the squad was good and the money could be there. At the end things changed.
“We have had a bad season and at the moment I can’t talk about the future because I don’t know what’s going to happen.
“I said ‘no’ to massive offers. I decided to stay here under some conditions which have changed.
“I know how the players feel too, because I have been talking to them all season and we share the same frustrations.
“I also left Valencia because the conditions changed. The season has not been good. That is clear. We know why and what has to change.
“Because of the history of this club, everyone expects us to be top all the time. But the real situation is that we’re competing under different conditions because of money.
“From the start, expectations were too high. Mentally it was not easy for the players to approach every game thinking we need to be contenders when we were six, eight and then ten points behind.”
“I decided to stay last year because of the fans and for one year I have been working hard, trying to do my best. We will see what happens in the future.”
Benetez has consistently used this tactic of appealing directly to the fans, employing their loyalty as a weapon in his fight against owners and CEO’s at the club. However, he may find that changes at the club and a realization in the boardroom that the fans are not happy with results and the style of football may have weakened his position.
