Peter Crouch admits Liverpool missed a chance to gain only their second victory in 23 visits to Stamford Bridge yesterday.
Rafael Benitez’s side produced a gritty performance to gain a goalless draw at championship-chasing Chelsea.
The visitors were the better side, particularly during the first half in which Crouch had a clutch of chances to score Liverpool’s first goal at the stadium under Benitez.
And the striker said: “A couple of half-chances came my way, and maybe the one on my left foot could have been better. If I hit the target then I think it would have gone in.
“It was a good battle out there, we matched them and in the end we were the better side.
“We are still a way behind at the top, but we proved today that we’ll keep going until the end.”
Jamie Carragher was an impressive performer at the heart of a Liverpool defence that kept a second successive clean sheet.
But the centre-back was also disappointed to have not come away with all three points.
“It was very tight,” he said. “We’ve had a few nil-nils here in the past because both teams have good defences and so it proved again.
“We shaded the game and maybe could have nicked it, so I’m a little disappointed because we had a couple of chances.
“Realistically we’re out of the title race now. Arsenal and Manchester United have set the pace and we now have to show respect to Aston Villa and Manchester City because we are in a right battle to get fourth place with them.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea coach Avram Grant wrote off Liverpool’s title hopes after watching his side stutter to a goalless draw.
Grant believes that Liverpool’s Premier League hopes are now in tatters and said: “I think after this game it will be very difficult for them to fight for the title. They are too many points from the first team.”
Grant was adamant that referee Mike Riley made a mistake when he failed to award Chelsea a penalty for Javier Mascherano’s challenge on Joe Cole in the first-half.
But Michael Ballack’s glaring miss 10 minutes from time also played a part in Chelsea’s inability to end the stalemate.
He said: “We are not happy. We want to win every game but especially at home. If we don’t win we are disappointed.
“You could say it is a missed opportunity, but it is not easy to play against Liverpool. They are a very tactical team. They don’t give you much space to play. In the first half we didn’t play quickly so it was much easier for them.
“We were better in the second-half but we missed a big chance at the end. It was a penalty when I saw it at the time and now I’ve seen it on TV, it was a 100% penalty.
“He is a good referee but he has made a mistake. It has happened.”
Rafael Benitez’s side produced a gritty performance to gain a goalless draw at championship-chasing Chelsea.
The visitors were the better side, particularly during the first half in which Crouch had a clutch of chances to score Liverpool’s first goal at the stadium under Benitez.
And the striker said: “A couple of half-chances came my way, and maybe the one on my left foot could have been better. If I hit the target then I think it would have gone in.
“It was a good battle out there, we matched them and in the end we were the better side.
“We are still a way behind at the top, but we proved today that we’ll keep going until the end.”
Jamie Carragher was an impressive performer at the heart of a Liverpool defence that kept a second successive clean sheet.
But the centre-back was also disappointed to have not come away with all three points.
“It was very tight,” he said. “We’ve had a few nil-nils here in the past because both teams have good defences and so it proved again.
“We shaded the game and maybe could have nicked it, so I’m a little disappointed because we had a couple of chances.
“Realistically we’re out of the title race now. Arsenal and Manchester United have set the pace and we now have to show respect to Aston Villa and Manchester City because we are in a right battle to get fourth place with them.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea coach Avram Grant wrote off Liverpool’s title hopes after watching his side stutter to a goalless draw.
Grant believes that Liverpool’s Premier League hopes are now in tatters and said: “I think after this game it will be very difficult for them to fight for the title. They are too many points from the first team.”
Grant was adamant that referee Mike Riley made a mistake when he failed to award Chelsea a penalty for Javier Mascherano’s challenge on Joe Cole in the first-half.
But Michael Ballack’s glaring miss 10 minutes from time also played a part in Chelsea’s inability to end the stalemate.
He said: “We are not happy. We want to win every game but especially at home. If we don’t win we are disappointed.
“You could say it is a missed opportunity, but it is not easy to play against Liverpool. They are a very tactical team. They don’t give you much space to play. In the first half we didn’t play quickly so it was much easier for them.
“We were better in the second-half but we missed a big chance at the end. It was a penalty when I saw it at the time and now I’ve seen it on TV, it was a 100% penalty.
“He is a good referee but he has made a mistake. It has happened.”
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