Okay, here is the official match discussion thread for the upcoming UEFA Champions League Semi-Final First Leg, between Liverpool Football Club and Chelsea Football Club. The match is taking place at Anfield (the home of Liverpool) on Tuesday 22nd April 2008 and is kicking off at 7:45 p.m. (B.S.T.) It will be live on this site, just check the homepage for streams! Before the chat, here is my match preview:
RECENT FORM: Last time out for Liverpool was on Saturday in the Premier League. They were away at Fulham and won 2-0. As for Chelsea, and they last played on Thursday 17th April 2008, when they won 1-0 away at Everton in the Premeir League. Back to Liverpool and their last home game was on Sunday 13th April 2008, when they were at home to Blackburn in the league. The result ended 3-1 to the homeside. And Liverpools last European game was in the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday 8th April 2008. Liverpool faced Arsenal in the second leg of the quarter-final and won 4-2 and 5-3 on aggregate. As for Chelsea, and their last Champions League game was also on Tuesday 8th April 2008. They were at home to Fernerbahce in the second leg of their quarter-final and won 2-0 and 3-2 on aggregate. And, Chelsea's last away Champions League match was on Wednesday 2nd April 2008, when they were away to Fernerbahce in the first leg of the Quarter-Final. Chelsea lost 2-1, after taking the lead.
TEAM NEWS: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is passed fit for this one, and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard will also be available for the game. Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini (hamstring) is out, while striker Didier Drogba remains doubtful with a knee complaint. Here are the Squads:
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Riise, Aurelio, Babel, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Lucas, Voronin, Crouch, Torres, Kuyt, Pennant, Itandje.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Ferreira, Belletti, Terry, Alex, Carvalho, Ben-Haim, A Cole, Bridge, Makelele, Ballack, Lampard, Obi, J Cole, Malouda, Shevchenko, Drogba, Kalou, Anelka, Wright-Phillips.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: The last time the pair met in a competitive game, was on Sunday 10th February 2008. They met in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, and a 0-0 draw was the result. The last meeting at Anfield was on Sunday 19th August 2007 again in the Premier League, with a 1-1 draw the result. The last european meeting between the two was in the Chmpions League on Tuesday 1st May 2007. It was the semi-final second leg at Anfield and Liverpool won the match 1-0. Chelsea won the first leg 1-0 so the match went to extra time. The scores stayed level so penalties took place and Liverpool won 4-1 and reached the Champions League final.
MATCH FACTS: Since Rafael Benitez became Liverpool manager, the reds have played Chelsea eighteen times with Five Liverpool wins, five draws and eight Chelsea wins. This is the fourth successive season in which Liverpool and Chelsea have met in the Champions League, and this is the third champions league semi-final meeting between the two with Liverpool winning the previous two. Also, Chelsea have won only two of their five European away matches against English opposition - both defeats came at Anfield. So Liverpool seem to have the upper hand in this european first leg. The five times champions of Europe have also reached 14 previous euro semi-finals and have gone on to the final 11 times. Chelsea (who have won two Cup Winners' Cups) have a poor semi-final record in the champions league, never making a final from three attempts. They have also lost six of their eight overall european semi-finals. They face Liverpool who are undefeated in seven games in Europe and have lost just one of their last 14 in all competitions. However, Chelsea are second in the premier league and nine points above fourth placed Liverpool.
ASHVALE32'S VIEW: Once again Chelsea and Liverpool meet in a european semi-final. Liverpool ahve the upper hand over Chelsea in Europe, yet this year the second leg is at Stamford Bridge not Anfield, as it has been on previous occasions. Liverpool have never scored a goal at Stamford Bridge since Benitez took over, so a goal at Anfield seems crucial. Chelsea will be desperate for an away goal, although they would love a clean sheet to take back to London. The crowd at Anfield give Liverpool an edge on european nights, yet Chelsea should now know what to expect. I am going to predict a scoring draw of 1-1, and will leave the second leg prediction for the next match discussion!
MY PREDICTION: 1-1
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PLAYERS: STEVEN GERRARD: 
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FRANK LAMPARD: 
MANAGERS: RAFAEL BENITEZ: 
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AVRAM GRANT: 
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REFEREE: MANUEL MEJUTO GONZALEZ (SPANISH): 
Results
Saturday 19th April 2008
Barclays Premier League
1) Fulham 0-2 Reading - Half Time: 0-0 - Craven Cottage - Kick Off: 3:00 p.m. (B.S.T.) - Fulham: Yellow Card: David Healy (Northern Irish) - Captain: Brian Mcbride (American) until he was substituted and took the Captain's armband - Manager: Roy Hodgson (English) - Liverpool: Scorers: Jermaine Pennant (English) 17", Peter Crouch (English) 70" - Captain: Sami Hyypiä (Finnish) until he was substituted and the Captain's armband was given to his replacement Jamie Carragher (English) - Manager: Rafael Benítez (Spanish) - Man of The Match: Jermaine Pennant (Liverpool - English [Source: BBC Sport Player Rater on 90 Minutes]) - Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire) - Attendance: 25,311 -
Match Review
Tuesday 22nd April 2008
UEFA Champions League
Semi-Final
First leg
1) Liverpool v Chelsea - Half Time: 0-0 - Anfield - Kick Off: 7:45 p.m. (G.M.T.) -
