Last-gasp goal denies Chelsea victory
Liverpool 2 Chelsea 2
Luis Suarez scored with the final kick of the game to deny Chelsea a victory which would have lifted them back up to third place.
Eden Hazard’s second-half penalty after Suarez had handled Juan Mata’s corner looked like giving the Blues three crucial points as they battle for a Champions League spot.
The Liverpool striker atoned in the closing seconds by heading home Daniel Sturridge’s cross.
But Suarez was fortunate to be on the pitch at that stage, having appeared to bite Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm shortly after Hazard’s goal – an incident not spotted by the match officials.
Earlier, a header from Oscar put Chelsea ahead before Sturridge, on as a half-time substitute, scored against his former club to bring the Merseysiders level.
Chelsea, who remain fourth in the table, were on top in the first half and Oscar nodded in Mata’s 26th-minute corner to register his 10th goal of the season and his second in the league.
The visitors continued to press after going ahead but it took Petr Cech’s fine save from Suarez to maintain their lead shortly before the break, and after the restart Rafael Benitez’s side were put under a spell of sustained pressure.
Benitez was predictably given a warm reception from the home fans on his return to Liverpool, who won the Champions League during his six-year spell as their manager.
Fernando Torres, on the other hand, was booed on his return to face his ex-club.
Torres kept his place but Benitez made three changes from the midweek win at Fulham, with Oscar, Cesar Azpilicueta and John Mikel Obi replacing Frank Lampard, John Terry and Victor Moses.
Sturridge was replaced by Stewart Downing and missed out on the starting line-up, but within seven minutes of his introduction the forward created an opening for Steven Gerrard, hit the woodwork and equalised.
Cech saved well from Gerrard and was then grateful to see a cracking long-range drive from Sturridge clatter against the post.
Sturridge did find the net with a side-footed finish following Suarez’s cross, only for Hazard to restore Chelsea’s lead before Jonjo Shelvey missed a golden chance for Liverpool late on.
After more good work from Sturridge, Jordan Henderson squared for Shelvey, who contrived to drag his shot into the side-netting.
But Sturridge’s persistence eventually paid off when Cech was unable to keep out Suarez’s header despite getting a hand to the ball.
Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Luiz, Bertrand, Ramires, Mikel, Mata (Lampard 90), Oscar (Moses 82), Hazard (Benayoun 78), Torres.
Subs not used: Turnbull, Ferreira, Terry, Ba
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22/04/2013 @ 8:39 am
Rafa, is full of blonders I wonder what he was thinking? Taking off Hazard in a match like that shows he’s not a good coach. Hazard out Bena-old in. What was Benitez thinking? I expect him to sub Oscar for Ba, I see no reason why he should remove a player Eden Hazard, now benitez have push us to a tight angle, so many tactics have cost us so much this season, he’s full of wrong moves,wrong attitudes towards games. We are paying the price for sacking RDM, Rafa is a block brain coach he just go.
22/04/2013 @ 6:29 am
Rafa must go now otherwise CFC will not qualify for Championship , his team selection and changes are up to Maggots, what he wants to contuine with the hasbeen Torres we as Supporters wont understand., he must go and take his two ex liverpool players with him players with him.
Roman put someone else incharge before the arrival of the Special One , Rafa wont get us Championship Place.
21/04/2013 @ 6:42 pm
Raphael Benitez is a heartbreaker, lack coordination in defensive tactics, too emotional to his former club. He does’nt deserved to coach Chelsea FC next season because he lacks qualities of a world class coach. He gives up on important games easily. He hardly substitutes players when they are not playing well. Raphael Benites should please go befores he ruin Chelsea FC totally.