Wednesday, April 09, 2008

It's Liverpool v Chelsea Again


Steven Gerrard kept his nerve on a night of high drama to score an 86th-minute penalty as Liverpool beat Arsenal last night to set up a Champions League semi-final re-match with Chelsea.

Gerrard scored in front of the Kop two minutes after Emmanuel Adebayor had kept Arsenal's season alive by levelling on the night and putting his side ahead on the away goals rule. The striker's tap-in followed an electric 70-yard run from Theo Walcott.

But it was to be in vain as Kolo Toure brought down Ryan Babel for Gerrard's penalty. Gerrard said: "It's up there with the other great European nights at Anfield. I was confident I could score but it was one of my worst performances."

Arsenal's season, which had promised so much, now looks set to end without any silverware.

Liverpool finished with a goal by Babel as they won 4-2 to go through 5-3 on aggregate.

At Stamford Bridge, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard scored as Chelsea beat Fenerbahce 2-0, to set up a third Champions League semi-final against Liverpool in four seasons. Liverpool won the previous two.

At Anfield last night, Abou Diaby had given Arsenal a 13th-minute lead, but Sami Hyypia equalised with a header. Fernando Torres fired Liverpool in front before Adebayor's goal heralded a dramatic finale.

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