Aurelio was stretchered off during the 2^nd half and when Riise took to the field there were groans in anticipation from both sets of fans for different reasons.   

The Norwegian has often been the scourge of our club with his long range efforts and for him to come on at a time when Liverpool were already on top and Grant was dithering what exactly to do about it (4-4-2 you numpty! How many more times!) (Here you go again dixon9 – change the record! – Ed) just brought more depression on the apparently inevitable outcome.  In contrast, the reaction  from some Liverpool fans at least wouldn’t have been positive as they believe their once reliable, solid full back is nowhere near as….er….well….reliable and solid. 

This substitution was to provide a deliciously poetic ending to the encounter right in front of the kop end whilst they were in full-on “Oooh looook at us! We’re on the tele, and were singing “You Never Walk Alone! (again!)” mode as Riise stooped down and headed into the roof of his own net after an angled low cross across the face of goal from Kalou.

There never has been or probably never will be a better way to silence the red side of Merseyside in their own back yard!

The rest of the match?  Oh yes! That!  Well, I’d say it was a bit more aesthetic for the neutral than our previous encounters against Liverpool but whilst not reaching the “Sh-t hanging off a stick” earlier versions the twig still whiffed a little bit. 

We started well (ish) and had the better of the first 20 mins or so and then Liverpool came back more into it and I’d say honours were more or less even after the first 45mins in terms of territorial advantage. 

The 2^nd half started off all Liverpool who played with verve and purpose whilst we began to wilt frustratingly.  The writing appeared to be on the wall and I began to find myself thinking we don´t deserve anything after our limp attitude and inept manager.

We began to wake up with 20 mins to go and Liverpool seemed to accept that we’d get back into it at some point and surprisingly backed off. 

Chances?  For our part, Joe Cole of all people missed the most guilt edged chance of the match after uncharacteristically sticking a leg out Sunday League style with just Reyna to beat after a superb ball from Ballack. 

The 2^nd half saw fluffs or poor finishing from Kalou, Ballack and Malouda after some of the best moves of the match. 

Liverpool had their chances to extend the lead but thanks to the combination of Cech and apparently unconfident Torres we were spared. 

Gerrard provided the most purposeful assault on our goal after a classic cut inside and fire in a rasper move which we have seen him do so often – fortunately, Cech again kept the scoreline to 1-0 with an equally classic reaction save. 

What else?  Well, if there ever was a match which displayed Grant’s weakeness in decision making when the chips were down then this was it.  Drogba was isolated as usual but Grant only decided to provide the Ivorian with more support in the 84^th min when he finally relented and allowed Anelka to spring onto the Anfield turf but the icing in the cake happened earlier when the Israeli removed our most influential player on the park in Ballack.

The ref!  Without doubt one of the worst referee’s (and linesman) I have ever seen put a whistle in his mouth!  Throughout the match, there were a constant series of unfathomable decisions favouring both sides and there can be no doubt that the cagey affairs which Liverpool/Chelsea games usually prove to be were not helped at all by his performance.  Indeed, the Liverpool goal in the first half came from a free-kick that never was although Lampard would have to hold his hands up after a keystone cop moment which allowed Kuyt to finish clumsily.

Still, the ending was almost perfect! 

There is something slightly distasteful about smugness and schadenfruede but I’m definitely going to permit myself a hefty dollop of it for the moment – I just can’t help myself!  Perhaps there really is a god up there after all or at the very least Karma does seem to have taken its toll!

Anyway, as I sign off, here’s a little treat for those of you who have often cursed Phil Thompson after listening to his sickenly biased and blinkered thinking on football and football history in general and after, some match highlights: 

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid958992159?bctid=1517402178 

Match highlights: 

http://soccerlens.com/liverpool-1-1-chelsea-cl-semifinal-video-highlights/7226/

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