Liverpool knocked out Chelsea from the top four race with a comfortable 4-1 win at Anfield on Tuesday, and in the process avenged their FA Cup final defeat against the Blues only three days ago.
The result meant that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roberto-c31294 Di Matteo’s side will need to beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on the 19th of May, in order to secure a berth in the next season’s European competition.
Luis Suarez forced an own goal from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/John-Terry-c18895 only minutes later allowed Jordon Henderson to double the hosts’ advantage, while
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Stewart-Downing-c34221 headed the ball from a corner-kick to help his side attain a 3-0 lead before halftime.
Even though Ramires reduced the deficit to 2 goals just after the break, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonjo-Shelvey-c19081 struck the fourth goal for the Merseyside outfit to complete a ruthless demolition of a listless Chelsea.
The win allowed Liverpool to reclaim their 8th place in the league table, while it kept the Blues at the 6th spot.
The game got off to a brisk start with both the sides looking to grab the early initiative. Early attempts from Suarez and Andy Carroll failed to test the Blues goalkeeper, while a header from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Branislav-Ivanovic-c7994 bounced back of the post from a corner kick.
In the 19th minute, Liverpool went ahead courtesy a moment of individual brilliance from Suarez. The Uruguayan footballer breezed past the Chelsea players on the right flank, cut inside the box from close to the by-line and delivered a low cross
towards a crowed six yards box, which went into the back of the net after taking a touch from Essien.
Six minutes later, the striker was involved in yet another goal as he played a searching pass towards Henderson which sent him one-on-one with the goalkeeper, after Terry slipped in a farcical manner. The English International punished the defensive lapse
from the veteran Chelsea defender, as he calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Things got from bad to worse for the visiting team in the 28th minute, as Agger nodded in a header from close range to open up a three goal lead, after Carroll headed the ball towards the defender from a corner kick.
In a rare attacking move from Chelsea close to the halftime break, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 box, and his power shot from an acute angle went out of harm’s way after hitting the woodwork.
However, the hosts assumed control of the game in the dying moments of the first half, and were awarded a penalty after Ivanovic brought down Carroll inside the box with his elbow. In Steven Gerrard’s absence, Downing stepped up to take the spot kick but
failed to convert as the ball bounced back after hitting the left post.
Despite being down and out for a major portion of the game, Chelsea struck immediately after the break through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Florent-Malouda-c13838 free-kick.
Nevertheless, only ten minutes later, Shelvey subdued http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786’s resilience as he blasted the ball home from the edge of the area to help his side close out an emphatic 4-1 win.
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