You could interpret the decision one of two ways. Either Rafa Benitez was convinced Liverpool stood no chance (rather unlikely for a manager indebted to the miracle of Istanbul), or he just did not want to risk his talismanic captain four days before Arsenal’s visit to Anfield.
That Premier League encounter, after all, always offered more hope than last night’s trip to Stamford Bridge. The worst possible scenario, therefore, would have been a less-than-fully-fit Steven Gerrard turning out last night and aggravating his suspect groin in a match that saw Chelsea through to the Champions League semi-finals anyway.
Double whammy time. A big gamble gone wrong, one that Benitez could end up regretting for quite some time. Failing to pull back a 3-1 deficit is one thing, but messing up your title chances along the way would undoubtedly go down as a reckless mistake.
As a result, Benitez trusted in his squad by forgetting about Gerrard (who had felt some discomfort beforehand), and deploying instead Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt in the wide positions, with Lucas playing slightly ahead of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in central midfield.
Knowing he couldn’t possibly replicate the intuitive partnership of Gerrard and Fernando Torres, Benitez went another way, one which had Chelsea reeling for large parts of this thriller.
Lucas, we know, possesses neither the speed nor the energy to fill Gerrard’s boots. Consequently, the young Brazilian never threatened to run beyond Torres or even get very close to dangerously linking up. Ironic, really, that he should score a deflected goal just after Torres had gone off.
The system, in fairness, hadn’t helped Torres, who endured one of his quieter games trying to lose Chelsea’s two centre-halves. It’s not that ‘El Nino’ dislikes playing up front on his own. On the contrary, he loves working the channels as a lone striker as long as support arrives from behind on cue.
Unfortunately for him, that didn’t happen here, Ricardo Carvalho and Alex comfortably combining to tie down the frustrated Spaniard, replaced late on by David N’Gog.
Yet it was a much different story out on the flanks where Kuyt and Benayoun enjoyed a marvelous time. Grafting away with a good deal of thought, they actually represented Liverpool’s greatest attacking threat by choosing their moments to duck inside.
Sat on the front row of the directors’ box, the watching Gerrard couldn’t fail to be impressed. It had been a wonderfully spirited performance bristling with defiance, craft and character.
But for Chelsea’s aggressive response in the second half, another incredible comeback would have transpired. No wonder Benitez was quietly delighted afterwards. His precious team ethic, where no one part is more important than the whole, had prevailed again to push Chelsea all the way in this spellbinding match.
The knock-on effect can only be positive in terms of Liverpool’s assault on the Premier League. Yes, what seemed like an unfeasibly tall order at the outset had ultimately proved exactly that, but the losers left London, not just with their pride intact, but infused with even more belief in their capabilities.
Better still, Gerrard should be fit for Arsenal this weekend. Rarely could a defeat feel so uplifting.
That Premier League encounter, after all, always offered more hope than last night’s trip to Stamford Bridge. The worst possible scenario, therefore, would have been a less-than-fully-fit Steven Gerrard turning out last night and aggravating his suspect groin in a match that saw Chelsea through to the Champions League semi-finals anyway.
Double whammy time. A big gamble gone wrong, one that Benitez could end up regretting for quite some time. Failing to pull back a 3-1 deficit is one thing, but messing up your title chances along the way would undoubtedly go down as a reckless mistake.
As a result, Benitez trusted in his squad by forgetting about Gerrard (who had felt some discomfort beforehand), and deploying instead Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt in the wide positions, with Lucas playing slightly ahead of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in central midfield.
Knowing he couldn’t possibly replicate the intuitive partnership of Gerrard and Fernando Torres, Benitez went another way, one which had Chelsea reeling for large parts of this thriller.
Lucas, we know, possesses neither the speed nor the energy to fill Gerrard’s boots. Consequently, the young Brazilian never threatened to run beyond Torres or even get very close to dangerously linking up. Ironic, really, that he should score a deflected goal just after Torres had gone off.
The system, in fairness, hadn’t helped Torres, who endured one of his quieter games trying to lose Chelsea’s two centre-halves. It’s not that ‘El Nino’ dislikes playing up front on his own. On the contrary, he loves working the channels as a lone striker as long as support arrives from behind on cue.
Unfortunately for him, that didn’t happen here, Ricardo Carvalho and Alex comfortably combining to tie down the frustrated Spaniard, replaced late on by David N’Gog.
Yet it was a much different story out on the flanks where Kuyt and Benayoun enjoyed a marvelous time. Grafting away with a good deal of thought, they actually represented Liverpool’s greatest attacking threat by choosing their moments to duck inside.
Sat on the front row of the directors’ box, the watching Gerrard couldn’t fail to be impressed. It had been a wonderfully spirited performance bristling with defiance, craft and character.
But for Chelsea’s aggressive response in the second half, another incredible comeback would have transpired. No wonder Benitez was quietly delighted afterwards. His precious team ethic, where no one part is more important than the whole, had prevailed again to push Chelsea all the way in this spellbinding match.
The knock-on effect can only be positive in terms of Liverpool’s assault on the Premier League. Yes, what seemed like an unfeasibly tall order at the outset had ultimately proved exactly that, but the losers left London, not just with their pride intact, but infused with even more belief in their capabilities.
Better still, Gerrard should be fit for Arsenal this weekend. Rarely could a defeat feel so uplifting.
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