Semi-final Liverpool 03 May 2005 LIVERPOOL FC - CHELSEA FC ANFIELD ROAD, LIVERPOOL TUESDAY 3 MAY 2005 at 19.45 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL, SECOND LEG LIVERPOOL FC v CHELSEA FC The goal-less draw at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday has set up a pulsating return leg for the fans at Anfield Road, who will doubtless want to enjoy the last home fixture in this season’s UEFA Champions League to the absolute maximum. Whether the Reds’ or the Blues’ supporters will be hurriedly making plans to travel to Istanbul is still very much an open question. The 0-0 scoreline offers positive and negative readings to both teams, with Chelsea FC preferring to focus on Liverpool FC’s lack of away goals at Stamford Bridge, which offers them an alternative winning option via a score-draw. On the other hand, Liverpool FC go into this match in a win-or-win situation but, having drawn the away leg, must feel confident of taking the honours in front of their own crowd. Whatever the outcome, an evening of tension and high drama is in prospect. For the first leg at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday, Liverpool FC striker Harry Kewell, who had played just twice since mid-December because of back, hamstring and groin troubles, was named on the substitutes’ bench. Milan Baros was given the lone striking role in the Reds' starting line-up - Xabi Alonso and Luís García, who both missed the previous Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace FC because of shin and thigh injuries respectively, were named in the Liverpool FC side. Steven Gerrard led his team despite undergoing dental surgery hours before the game. The Liverpool FC midfielder had surgery to remove a mouth abscess that had caused him increasing pain the night before the match. Gerrard was taken to a dental hospital in London first thing in the morning and after the operation he rejoined his team-mates. The Liverpool FC line-up was (4-5-1) Dudek; Finnan, Hyypiä, Carragher, Traoré; Xabi Alonso, Gerrard, Biscan (Kewell 86), Luís García, Riise; Baros (Cissé 65). The unused substitutes were Carson, Smicer, Le Tallec, Núñez and Warnock. For Chelsea FC, Damien Duff failed a late fitness test, so Tiago was drafted into midfield with Chelsea FC reverting to a 4-4-2 formation. Their line-up was: Cech; Johnson, Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Gallas; Tiago (Robben 59), Makelele, Lampard, Cole (Kezman 78); Gudjohnsen, Drogba. The unused substitutes were Cudicini, Smertin, Geremi, Forssell and Huth. The clubs now meet for the fifth time this season, with Chelsea FC having won the first three games, all by a single goal, before the 0-0 draw last Wednesday. In the league, Joe Cole proved to be the scourge of Liverpool FC with the only goal in both games, and both after coming on as a substitute. Cole came on for Didier Drogba in the game at Stamford Bridge on 3 October 2004 after 38 minutes and won the game with his 64th-minute winner. On New Years Day, in the return game at Anfield, Cole came on after 76 minutes for Damien Duff, and scored within four minutes of his arrival, as Chelsea won again 1-0. On 27 February 2005, the teams met again in the League Cup final, with Chelsea prevailing 3-2, after extra time, before 78,000 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. John Arne Riise put Liverpool ahead after 45 seconds, but Steven Gerrard then put through his own UEFA Press Information Semi-final Liverpool 03 May 2005 LIVERPOOL FC - CHELSEA FC goal after 79 minutes to take the game into extra time. Chelsea then pulled clear with goals from Didier Drogba after 107 minutes, and Mateja Kezman five minutes later. Antonio Núñez immediately pulled a goal back but Chelsea hung on for their first major honour under José Mourinho. The teams for the League Cup final were: Chelsea (4-3-2-1) Cech; Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, Gallas (Kezman 73); Jarosik (Gudjohnsen 46), Makelele, Lampard; Cole (Johnson 80), Duff; Drogba. Unused subs: Pidgeley and Tiago. Liverpool fielded (4-4-1-1) Dudek; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypiä, Traoré (Biscan 66); Kewell (Núñez 56), Gerrard, Hamann, Riise; Luís García; Morientes (Baros 73), and the unused substitutes were Carson and Pellegrino. This is the 10th UEFA Champions League tie between clubs from the same country, and the second occasion involving English teams after the Chelsea v Arsenal FC tie last season. Italian and Spanish clubs have met on three occasions, and German clubs have also been paired together twice. Liverpool, however, have won just one of their seven games in UEFA club competitions against English clubs. In the 1970/71 Fairs Cup semi-final, Billy Bremner scored the only goal of the tie at Anfield as Leeds United AFC beat Liverpool 1-0 on aggregate; Leeds went forward to win the Cup. In the 1972/73 UEFA Cup, Liverpool drew the holders Tottenham Hotspur FC in the semi- final, and took a 1-0 lead through full back Alec Lindsay at Anfield. A 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane saw Liverpool progress to the final thanks to Steve Heighway’s away goal. Liverpool then beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-2 on aggregate in the final. Then in the 1978/79 Champion Clubs’ Cup, Liverpool, the holders, met the league champions Nottingham Forest FC in the first round. Goals from Gary Birtles and Colin Barrett gave Forest a 2-0 lead at the City ground, and Brian Clough’s side held on for a 0-0 draw at Anfield, and progressed to the final where they beat Malmö FF 1-0. Last weekend Forest were relegated to League 1, the equivalent of the third division. Against English clubs, Liverpool have one win (the home leg against Tottenham Hotspur), three draws (after last Wednesday) and three defeats in seven games with just two goals scored and five conceded. The winners of Liverpool’s three previous all-English ties were the eventual champions. Chelsea have played one other English team in UEFA club competitions besides their meeting with Arsenal FC in last season’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final which finished 1-1 at Stamford Bridge and 2-1 to Chelsea at Highbury. In the 1970/71 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final, Chelsea won both legs 1-0 against the holders Manchester City FC, and went on to beat Real Madrid CF in the final. Derek Smethurst scored in the first leg in London and the late Keith Weller in the return game at Manchester. Chelsea bring an unbeaten record against English teams in UEFA club competitions into the match, with three wins and two draws from their previous five games and a goal difference of 5-2. Maybe significantly, the Blues have won both away games. The first match between the two clubs took place on Christmas Day 1907, with Chelsea winning 4-1 at Liverpool. But Liverpool have edged ahead in the overall head to head meetings between the clubs. In 124 league meetings since 1907, Liverpool have won 57 matches, Chelsea have 41 wins and 26 games have finished as a draw. But the Cup meetings are closer. Chelsea have five wins to Liverpool’s three successes in the FA Cup, but Chelsea’s win in the 2005 League Cup final was their first win against two victories for Liverpool in that competition. Last week’s 0-0 draw was the first draw in ‘Cup’ matches. Overall the clubs have met on 136 occasions with Liverpool winning 62, Chelsea 47, and 27 draws. UEFA Press Information Semi-final Liverpool 03 May 2005 LIVERPOOL FC - CHELSEA FC The 4-1 win on their first visit remains Chelsea’s biggest win at Liverpool though they did score four times at Liverpool in 1946. However Liverpool scored seven for a 7-4 win which is the highest score and the highest match aggregate in the series. Liverpool won 6-0 at home in 1935 for their biggest winning margin. Chelsea FC have won on their last two visits to Anfield, this season’s 1-0 win followed a 2-1 win at Anfield in the Premiership last season. Liverpool’s last home win against Chelsea was in the 2002/03 season by 1-0 which was, at the time, their 10th win in the previous 12 home games against Chelsea with two draws. Liverpool FC - background statistics Liverpool FC are taking part in their seventh semi-final in the Champion Clubs’ Cup/UEFA Champions League. They have won their last five semi-finals in this competition; the only loss was their first, to FC Internazionale Milano in 1964/65. Liverpool FC are in their 32nd season in UEFA club competitions (an English club record), and their 15th in the European Cup/Champions League (one behind Manchester United FC). This is their 13th European semi-final, and their 47th semi-final in all club competitions. Liverpool will be hoping to reach their 32nd final, their 10th European final, and their sixth final in this competition. Liverpool have won 31 of their previous 46 cup semi-finals in all competitions, and nine of their previous 12 European semi-finals. This is the 3rd season of UEFA Champions League football for Liverpool FC, with successive seasons of participation from 2001-03 before their return in 2004/05. In their only other appearance in the knock-out stages of the competition, Liverpool were eliminated by Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4-3 on aggregate in the 2001/02 quarter-final. Liverpool have conceded just six goals in their 11 UEFA Champions League games this season.